Set up a months worth of Meals on Wheels

Marie5656

Marie5656

SF VIP
Location
Batavia, NY
At the insistance of my niece, I have ordered Meals on Wheels, for the time being during my recovery. It will only be for a month..until I an determined to be more mobile and can drive and cook on my own. The will ask for a small donation.
They will deliver lunch every day. And the meals look pretty good. Once I am able to be up and about more, the service will end. TBH, I did not really want it, as I prefer to do my own cooking. But, I figured what the heck. I can do it for a month of one meal a day. Won't kill me.
They give milk with every meal, which I normally only use when I have cereal in the morning, but I am sure I will use it up.
 

My husband and I delivered for Meals on Wheels for a while. The senior center that prepared the meals worked really hard to make good meals and keep them hot.

My husband would pull up to a house and log the time while I jumped out, took the meal from it's heated box and delivered it. It was usually something like mashed potatoes, meat loaf, veg, milk and dessert. It looked good, but the portions were small by my standards. :sneaky: I would run it up the stairs and deliver it, either at the door or go in and take it to the person, depending on their mobility.

The problems started when the elderly person wanted to chat a while and so did I. I figured, in many cases, loneliness was a bigger problem than hunger. Meanwhile my military husband was watching the time and fretting about the schedule.

That was the only time we did any volunteer work together!;)

Hope you get the good meals, Marie!
 

MarciKS said:
I hope you have better luck than dad did. They barely sent him any food and it was always cold. He was so mad I think he cancelled it. One day he said he got a hotdog with 2 cold onion rings and a 2x2 slice of cake, mixed fruit and a milk.
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Well, my feeling it will ONLY be for a month. And I guess I can deal with that. And I have plenty of food at home to add to the meal if I want more. Sorry your dad had bad luck, though. I know when my dad had it he got cancelled from it because one day he decided to walk across the street to the mini mart for milk. Was not home to receive delivery...so that was it
@Della the meals are delivered to the lobby of my building, and one of the tenants delivers them to the apartments. I am friends with one of the people who delivers them, so she knows she can just knock and walk in to drop it off
 
I don't like the idea of it. If it comes to the point that I can't cook, I will have my son and DIL come over to cook for the freezer, they are great cooks. If I can't do that then I will look at assisted living. We all have our own tastes. I prefer to cook what I enjoy and make meals for the freezer when I don't feel like cooking. Dessert, cakes and pies also freeze well.
 
I have a meals on wheels lunch almost every day. I used to deliver them but quit that when I became a senior companion. As a senior companion, I have taken clients to meal sites where socializing is the biggest reason for going. The meals sites were closed because of the pandemic and still have not opened, but I can pick up lunches and then them to a client's home or now that the weather is nice we eat in a park.

I probably wouldn't eat the meals on wheels lunches almost every day of the week but I hate cooking and there is a site within a short walking distance of where I live. Also, I really want to support the program so it is there for others. I was so afraid the sites would be completely closed if we did not support them. I like the smaller portions because I tend to eat too much. Sometimes the food is really good but always- but neither is my cooking that good. :LOL:
 
Blessed said:
I don't like the idea of it. If it comes to the point that I can't cook, I will have my son and DIL come over to cook for the freezer, they are great cooks. If I can't do that then I will look at assisted living. We all have our own tastes. I prefer to cook what I enjoy and make meals for the freezer when I don't feel like cooking. Dessert, cakes and pies also freeze well.
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TBH, I agree. I was very resistive, which is why I agreed to sign up for ONLY a month, while I am still in recovery mode from surgery. While I feel well, I still cannot stand for long periods for cooking and cleaning dishes.
I, also, would much prefer to buy and cook my own foods. Thus my tryout of Instacart, which I mentioned in another thread here.

I, unfortunatly, buckled to pressure from my niece, who was continuing to push it. I agreed with the understanding that it would not be permanent. I spent a month in rehab eating the institution prepared food. And while I will admit it was not bad, I missed preparing my own meals.
I am far from a gourmet cook, but I get by. Plus, MOW is not meant to be long term..just a temporary help. And I told the lady I had no desire to go longer than a month. I need to channel my stubborn Italian father. LOL
 
Kaila said:
Did they give you any choices, in what to receive, @Marie5656 ?
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We always have an A or B lunch. If someone is diabetic, the desert is for someone with diabetes. If a person does not want milk the lunch can be sent out without milk.

The meals will not be hot but by law, the temperature should be high enough to prevent bacteria from growing. That isn't always possible but the lunches should not be cold unless it is a sandwich or salad.

Complaints can improve the meals and so do compliments. When possible I rather compliment everyone on the chance that what I like will be repeated. But then I am so established with our nutrition site, it is almost like being family. I also wash dishes at a Senior center after Wednesday lunch, when everyone is playing bingo.

My life is better now than it ever was because I am so tied to all services for seniors. From housing for seniors to meals, and the senior centers, they are home or extensions of my home. I love being with people my own age or older. In my younger years, I was much more isolated.
 
Vida May said:
We always have an A or B lunch. If someone is diabetic, the desert is for someone with diabetes. If a person does not want milk the lunch can be sent out without milk.
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Interesting...I asked if I could request no milk, but refusal of it is not an option. So, Since I do eat cereal some mornings for breakfast, I guess I will use some then...or pass it on to neighbors.
 
Vida May said:
My life is better now than it ever was because I am so tied to all services for seniors. From housing for seniors to meals, and the senior centers, they are home or extensions of my home. I love being with people my own age or older. In my younger years, I was much more isolated.
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I wish this town had those kind of services for seniors but it doesn't, even though we're the biggest city in the county, even bigger than the county seat itself. Maybe it's because we're a university town, according to some stuff I've read about university/college towns not having much for seniors. For instance, we have an agency that--if you can even get ahold of anybody who works there, mostly volunteers so hard to get a hold of--will help with some senior problems but no senior center that's a place for seniors to gather and just have lunch, chat, etc.
 
Marie5656 said:
Interesting...I asked if I could request no milk, but refusal of it is not an option. So, Since I do eat cereal some mornings for breakfast, I guess I will use some then...or pass it on to neighbors.
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I am getting from your thread that there are differences from place to place. Perhaps when meals are delivered there is less flexibility. When I was delivering I only had to know if a person wanted A or B.

One day I could not figure out if the people order A or B. My mind absolutely was not working and I panicked! I thought I had instant advanced Alzheimer's disease. When I finished my route I told the supervisor my problem and she suggested it could be my medication. I called the doctor's office as soon as I got home and was told I should not be driving while using the pain medication. That was the last prescribed pain medication I have used, and I told the doctor's office to note, I never want that kind of medication again. If a person has trouble figuring out if someone ordered A or B, there is a problem.
 
Vida May said:
We always have an A or B lunch. If someone is diabetic, the desert is for someone with diabetes. If a person does not want milk the lunch can be sent out without milk.

The meals will not be hot but by law, the temperature should be high enough to prevent bacteria from growing. That isn't always possible but the lunches should not be cold unless it is a sandwich or salad.

Complaints can improve the meals and so do compliments. When possible I rather compliment everyone on the chance that what I like will be repeated. But then I am so established with our nutrition site, it is almost like being family. I also wash dishes at a Senior center after Wednesday lunch, when everyone is playing bingo.

My life is better now than it ever was because I am so tied to all services for seniors. From housing for seniors to meals, and the senior centers, they are home or extensions of my home. I love being with people my own age or older. In my younger years, I was much more isolated.
Click to expand...
That is so admirable @Vida May. When I retired a couple of years ago, I reached out to a senior center that is close by. I asked if they needed anyone just to visit with the residents and talk with them. I was really thinking of the ladies because I took care of my mother for so long. The only opportunity was getting into a men's group chat, so I didn't pursue it further.

I'm going to have to look into this again. I know it must make you feel great!
 
officerripley said:
I wish this town had those kind of services for seniors but it doesn't, even though we're the biggest city in the county, even bigger than the county seat itself. Maybe it's because we're a university town, according to some stuff I've read about university/college towns not having much for seniors. For instance, we have an agency that--if you can even get ahold of anybody who works there, mostly volunteers so hard to get a hold of--will help with some senior problems but no senior center that's a place for seniors to gather and just have lunch, chat, etc.
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Are you inclined to be an activist? If you are, look into the Older Americans Act. It is the work of President Kennedy and we might not have anything either, except back in the day many places took action on the Older Americans Act. In that brief time in history, seniors were declared entitled to housing, transportation, nutrition, opportunities, and education.

I also live in a University town and I can audit any classes I want as long as there is room in the classroom, and it cost me nothing. I can get too and from the college, or anywhere I want to go with a free bus pass.

The nutrition sites were not just about nutrition but when people gather to eat, they socialize, and when they socialize, they develop support groups.

Here is the problem, most people know nothing of the act and when it was made, there was no system for funding the programs. Now our Senior centers are community centers and this can push older people out, but by opening the center to everyone, it has a better source of funding. However, every place in the US should have a council on Aging. Here is some information...


The National Council on Aging​

https://www.ncoa.org

The National Council on Aging.



Area Agencies on Aging - Eldercare Locator​

https://eldercare.acl.gov › Aging_Network › AAA

AAAs may be categorized as: county, city, regional planning council or council of governments, private, or non-profit. AAAs coordinate and offer services that ...

Since this is the Meals-on-wheels thread, I might say that is done by volunteers and the volunteers don't even get gas money. I am afraid that puts the program in jeopardy.

If we want the programs and we want our sons and daughters to have them when it is their turn to have the entitlements after years of working and being good citizens, we need to raise awareness of the Older Americans Act and how this all works and how much it relies on seniors as volunteers, not just recipients of services and affordable housing. We get help so we can continue giving back to our communities.
 
dseag2 said:
That is so admirable @Vida May. When I retired a couple of years ago, I reached out to a senior center that is close by. I asked if they needed anyone just to visit with the residents and talk with them. I was really thinking of the ladies because I took care of my mother for so long. The only opportunity was getting into a men's group chat, so I didn't pursue it further.

I'm going to have to look into this again. I know it must make you feel great!
Click to expand...
What? :eek: Oh my, I didn't realize how lucky I am to be where I am. For a while, our university had a gerontology department and that is why I know a little something about the services and the whole circle of having opportunities as well as having services.

Senior Companions and the Foster Grandparent Program are federal programs that pay low-income senior volunteers a stipend. There are other programs that do not pay stipends and well-off people can volunteer. All these programs are weak or nonexistent right now because we do not live with the awareness of the Act and the services. We have stopped honoring our elders and I think in general we may not be caring about each other as much as we once did.

Compared to the Netherlands, the US is retarded.
 
Vida May said:
Are you inclined to be an activist? If you are, look into the Older Americans Act. It is the work of President Kennedy and we might not have anything either, except back in the day many places took action on the Older Americans Act. In that brief time in history, seniors were declared entitled to housing, transportation, nutrition, opportunities, and education.

I also live in a University town and I can audit any classes I want as long as there is room in the classroom, and it cost me nothing. I can get too and from the college, or anywhere I want to go with a free bus pass.

The nutrition sites were not just about nutrition but when people gather to eat, they socialize, and when they socialize, they develop support groups.

Here is the problem, most people know nothing of the act and when it was made, there was no system for funding the programs. Now our Senior centers are community centers and this can push older people out, but by opening the center to everyone, it has a better source of funding. However, every place in the US should have a council on Aging. Here is some information...

The National Council on Aging​

https://www.ncoa.org

The National Council on Aging.


Area Agencies on Aging - Eldercare Locator​

https://eldercare.acl.gov › Aging_Network › AAA

AAAs may be categorized as: county, city, regional planning council or council of governments, private, or non-profit. AAAs coordinate and offer services that ...

Since this is the Meals-on-wheels thread, I might say that is done by volunteers and the volunteers don't even get gas money. I am afraid that puts the program in jeopardy.

If we want the programs and we want our sons and daughters to have them when it is their turn to have the entitlements after years of working and being good citizens, we need to raise awareness of the Older Americans Act and how this all works and how much it relies on seniors as volunteers, not just recipients of services and affordable housing. We get help so we can continue giving back to our communities.
Click to expand...
Thanks for this. I had already signed up for newsletters from the NCOA; but when looking for programs in this town, it only lists 1, an economic help program through the University. And the Area Agency on Aging in our area is the agency I spoke about before that is only set up for limited help with rides to doctors appointments, help you with applications to senior living. And they used to have a companions program that volunteers would visit lonely seniors; but if that has even started up after the pandemic (which I doubt), that's not what I'm interested in, I'm interested in a place where seniors would gather, for lunch, coffee, etc. More and more, around here anyway, it looks like the only place like that would be a seniors/low income apartment building; there are a lot of seniors-only mobile home parks but I've heard that the people all keep to themselves, that their clubhouses sit empty and unused most of the time (even before the covid lockdown).
 
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dseag2 said:
That is so admirable @Vida May. When I retired a couple of years ago, I reached out to a senior center that is close by. I asked if they needed anyone just to visit with the residents and talk with them. I was really thinking of the ladies because I took care of my mother for so long. The only opportunity was getting into a men's group chat, so I didn't pursue it further.

I'm going to have to look into this again. I know it must make you feel great!
Click to expand...
I admire you so much!! Wanting to give to others that might be alone in the world. I have read that your Mom was in care. My mother was also in assisted living. I spent time talking to the other people in her home. They often did not have family or friends that would visit. It made them so happy there was someone to talk to, listen to their memories. If you can't find an organization that fits, you might contact the home your Mom lived in. I am sure they would welcome you to visit others in their care that don't have regular visits with others.
 
Vida May said:
Compared to the Netherlands, the US is retarded.
Click to expand...
I hear this. On another site I'm on, I was bemoaning the fact that it seems like here in the US, seniors seem to be forgotten about. A bunch of people jumped in, telling me I was full of it, "you pinko commie, quit running our country down," etc. Welp, another gal on that site who has been in the military for years chimed in and came to my defense. She'd been stationed for years in Europe, mostly Germany IIRC, and then a few years ago, transferred back stateside to a military base in a midwestern state since she's getting close to retirement and that's where she has family. And she said that where she had been stationed in Europe, that seniors are thought about and cared for and about so, so much compared to the U.S so that when she came back stateside, it was like having a bucket of cold, dirty water thrown in her face seeing again how little the U.S. cares about old people.
 
Marie5656 said:
At the insistance of my niece, I have ordered Meals on Wheels, for the time being during my recovery. It will only be for a month..until I an determined to be more mobile and can drive and cook on my own. The will ask for a small donation.
They will deliver lunch every day. And the meals look pretty good. Once I am able to be up and about more, the service will end. TBH, I did not really want it, as I prefer to do my own cooking. But, I figured what the heck. I can do it for a month of one meal a day. Won't kill me.
They give milk with every meal, which I normally only use when I have cereal in the morning, but I am sure I will use it up.
Click to expand...
I hope this works out for you. I'm sure different places also have different standards for what they prepare. While I'm not a great fan of processed frozen foods and tv dinners, it might be worth paying once for delivery service for microwaveable meals. You need to eat, Marie! It's necessary for healing, they say.
 
We tried Meals on Wheels here , and they only delivered 4 times a week. The food was terrible and they were shocked that I cleaned the plastic trays. We went to the place paid and said we might be interested at a later date.
 
officerripley said:
Thanks for this. I had already signed up for newsletters from the NCOA; but when looking for programs in this town, it only lists 1, an economic help program through the University. And the Area Agency on Aging in our area is the agency I spoke about before that is only set up for limited help with rides to doctors appointments, help you with applications to senior living. And they used to have a companions program that volunteers would visit lonely seniors; but if that has even started up after the pandemic (which I doubt), that's not what I'm interested in, I'm interested in a place where seniors would gather, for lunch, coffee, etc. More and more, around here anyway, it looks like the only place like that would be a seniors/low income apartment building; there are a lot of seniors-only mobile home parks but I've heard that the people all keep to themselves, that their clubhouses sit empty and unused most of the time (even before the covid lockdown).
Click to expand...
Hum, I am trying to think what I would do if we had no community centers that were senior centers. The mood of the times is not what it was. I am afraid right now, trying to get something started would be like trying to grow tomatoes in winter. We are barely holding onto what we do have.

The really good programs need a large institution to sponsor them. Our community college has sponsored a small business program where retired business people help young business people get started. The college is sponsoring our Senior Companion program but this might not last beyond this year. A hospital in another city was sponsoring the Foster Grandparent program but it collapsed. Finding a good sponsor and keeping the sponsor is a serious challenge.

Is there any chance of connecting with people who are as interested as you are? Joining with people who share the same concern can be the first step to making desired changes. A restaurant with a large room and using the media to call attention to meetings can help in building a movement. Having a simple brunch during off-hours is affordable and encourages people to participate.

Institutions have established goals, and if you know them, you can point out that their goals are a good match with your goals. Keep your eyes open for a possible site and go to a city council public hearing to talk about the need for a center.
 

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