More than a Meal: Meals on Wheels America

Meals on Wheels is a program that delivers meals to individuals at home who are unable to purchase or prepare their own meals, particularly seniors. Meals on Wheels is a proven public-private partnership that effectively addresses the challenges of aging by promoting health and improving quality of life for at-risk seniors.This network serves virtually every community in America and, along with more than two million staff and volunteers, delivers the nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks that enable America’s seniors to live nourished lives with independence and dignity. This program is funded by federal, state, local, and private dollar.

Meals on Wheels has been guided by a single goal since the first known U.S. delivery by a small group of Philadelphia citizens in 1954 – to support our senior neighbors to extend their independence and health as they age.

A study conducted by Brown University and funded by Gary and Mary West Foundation was designed to shed light on the impact of home-delivered meal services on the overall health and well-being of medicare recipients. This study analyzed a sample of Medicare beneficiaries who received Meals on Wheels between 2009 and 2014 (N=14,000). Two sets of analyses were conducted: 1. health care utilization costs of clients prior to and following receipt of the Meals on Wheels program over a 30-,90-,and 180-day period. 2. comparing the health care utilization and costs between Meals on Wheels clients and a control group of Medicare beneficiaries not receiving Meals on Wheels.
Meals on Wheels recipients had 39% reduction in hospitalizations, 28% reduction in ED visits, and 28% reduction in nursing home use 30 days post-enrollment. Declines in all three areas of utilization continued but lowered over time; at 180 days post-enrollment, reductions were 31% for hospitalizations, 13% for ED visits, and 25% for nursing home use.
Average decrease in Medicare reimbursements per Meals on Wheels recipient 30 days post- enrollment was $362 for hospitalizations, $244 for skilled nursing facilities, and $22 for ED.
However, study found Meals on Wheels recipients had higher rates of utilization compared to control group of Medicare beneficiaries who did not receive Meals on Wheels.