Meals on Wheels of Hamilton County provides nutritious meals delivered to elderly, disabled and homebound residents either on a short-term or a long-term basis. Clients may be recovering from a hospital stay, an injury or a disabling illness. Meals are provided five days a week as long as necessary.
Eligibility Requirements
The service is available to anyone who is physically or mentally unable to prepare a meal for themselves regardless of age or income. Clients can refer themselves or be referred by their physician, a family member, church pastor, or hospital discharge personnel. Applications for home-delivered meals are reviewed and approved by the Executive Director. A doctor’s script is required for every client receiving meals to insure that dietary restrictions are honored, and dietary requirements are met.
Food Preparation
Meals are prepared in approved institutional kitchens under the direct supervision of registered dietitians. Special dietary requirements can be accommodated such as a diabetic, heart healthy, low-fat/low-cholesterol, or renal diets for dialysis patients. Two meal plans are offered:
- A one-meal plan consists of a hot lunch in a three-compartment tray and includes a protein portion, a carbohydrate, and a vegetable. A separate cold sack accompanies the hot meal and provides bread and butter, dessert and a choice of milk or juice as a beverage.
- The two-meal plan consists of the same hot lunch, plus an additional deli-style sack supper that includes a protein sandwich, a fruit or dessert, and a second choice of milk or juice as a beverage.
Menus are designed by the nutrition services staff at each of the meal preparation facilities and may rotate on a weekly or monthly basis. Personal preferences or substitutions may or may not be possible.
Payment for Meals
Clients are asked to pay for the cost of their meals and are invoiced at the end of each month for all the meals consumed in the previous month. Third-party payers on behalf of a client may include a relative, adult child, a friend/church member, or a private sponsor. Every effort is made to provide meals to clients regardless of their ability to pay. With the financial support of CICOA In-Home Aging Solutions and the Access Network, we are able to subsidize a portion or all of the meal cost for those who need assistance.
Sponsor-A-Senior Program
Funding is provided for eligible clients through the Sponsor-A-Senior program. Individual donations, corporate contributions and some grant funds are available to support the cost of meals for certain clients. The Meals on Wheels Board of Directors has mandated that no elderly, disabled or homebound resident in Hamilton County shall go hungry because of an inability to pay for a meal. Each client’s need is evaluated to determine eligibility for the Sponsor-A-Senior program.
Enrollment for Services
Getting home-delivered meals is simple and easy. It requires a referral, either by the client, a family member, physician, friend, social worker or another community organization. Follow these steps:
- Complete the on-line application form or the mail-in or Fax-in application (click on the appropriate form)
- Complete the Physician Release form and take it to your Physician for signature, then fax or mail it to our office.
- Contact your primary-care physician and request a written “prescribed diet” to be faxed or mailed to our office. The script is necessary to meet specific dietary needs.
That’s all there is to it. Once your application is processed, you will be contacted by our Meal Services Coordinator to arrange for delivery of your meal, usually within 24-48 hours after the application is approved.
