Meals on Wheels

For the Hong Kong action movie starring Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung, see Wheels on Meals.

Meals on Wheels are programmes that deliver meals to individuals at home who are unable to purchase or prepare their own meals. The name is often used generically to refer to home-delivered meals programmes, not all of which are actually named "Meals on Wheels." Because they are housebound, many of the recipients are the elderly; not surprisingly, most of the volunteers are also elderly but able-bodied.

History

Meals on Wheels originated in Great Britain during the Blitz, when many people lost their homes and therefore the ability to cook their own food. The Women's Volunteer Service, WVS, for Civil Defence (later WRVS) provided food for these people. The name "Meals on Wheels" derived from the Women's Volunteer Service for Civil Defence's related activity of bringing meals to servicemen. The concept of delivering meals to those unable to prepare their own evolved into the modern programmes that deliver mostly to the housebound elderly for free or with donations.

Great Britain (1947)

The first home delivery of a meal on wheels following the war, in the style we know today, was made by the WVS in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England in 1947. Many early services used old prams to transport the meals, using straw bails, and even old felt hats to keep the meals warm in transit.

The majority of local authorities have now moved away from freshly cooked food delivery, and towards the supply of frozen pre-cooked reheatable meals.

Australia (1952)

In Australia, Meals on Wheels started in 1952 in South Melbourne. The meals were delivered by a lady on a tricycle. When it became too much for her to cope with, the Red Cross took over. Doris Taylor founded Meals on Wheels in South Australia in 1953, and in 1954 the first meal was served from the Port Adelaide kitchen.. </ref> In New South Wales, Meals on Wheels was started in March 1957 by Sydney City Council. In the first week 150 meals were served for inner city dwellers; these were cooked in the Town Hall kitchen. Organised on a regional basis, in Australia Meals on Wheels is a well established, active and thriving group of organisations; the interested reader can easily find more information on the web. The history of a small sample of some of the organisations includes: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria.

United States (1954)

The first home-delivered meal programme in the United States started in 1954 in Philadelphia. Columbus, Ohio and Rochester, New York also pioneered Meals on Wheels in the U.S.

Canada (1965)

Winnipeg: Meals on Wheels was originally created as a side project of The Home Welfare Association. A 1961 study recommended the establishment of a Meals on Wheels delivery service for people who were unable to prepare meals for themselves, such as the elderly and infirm. A three year pilot project was started and they delivered the first meals on June 30, 1965. In 1981 the Home Welfare Association chapter was officially closed when the name was changed to Meals on Wheels of Winnipeg, Inc.

Halifax: Meals on Wheels began in Nova Scotia in 1969, with three volunteers delivering six meals in Halifax.

Calgary: Meals on Wheels was formed in response to a plea from the Hospital Chaplaincy Committee of the Calgary Presbytery of the United Church. In 1965, a study was undertaken by the Presbyterian United Church Women into the needs of the elderly living alone and those being discharged from hospitals with no help available during their convalescence. On November 30, 1965 the Calgary Church Womens’ Community Care was incorporated and in 1976 the name was officially changed to "Calgary Meals on Wheels". In addition to the United Church, the Anglican, Baptist, Catholic and Presbyterian Churches supported the movement while interested volunteers and service clubs answered the call for help and proved to be the backbone of the fledging organization. The United Way and the City of Calgary have also played a vital role in the success of this community service. On November 15, 1965 the first meal service started serving eight clients. By 1982 the number of clients had increased to in excess of 380 per day, requiring a move to a larger centre. In 2005, Calgary Meals on Wheels celebrated its 40th Anniversary, (having never missed a meal delivery in its 40 year history), and delivered to some 1900 clients, plus services to several unique programs. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors, all of whom are volunteers. A pool of some 750 volunteers donate just under 75,000 hours of time a year to deliver meals five days a week within Calgary city limits.

Modern programmes

Today, Meals on Wheels programmes generally operate at the county level or smaller. Programmes vary widely in their size, service provided, organisation and funding.

There are active Meals on Wheels programmes in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. The National Association of Care Catering are a great source of information on UK Meals on Wheels services. The Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) is a national association for senior nutrition programmes, but each programme is entirely independent.

Most Meals on Wheels programmes deliver meals hot and ready-to-eat, but some deliver cold meals in containers ready to microwave. Others supply deep-frozen meals. Some warm programmes provide an additional frozen meal during the days prior to a weekend or holiday (when there would be no delivery). Depending on the programme, meals may be delivered by paid drivers or by volunteers. In addition to providing nutrition to sustain the health of a client, a meal delivery by a Meals on Wheels driver or volunteer also serves as a safety check and source of companionship for the client.

Most clients of Meals on Wheels programmes are elderly. In the US, and programmes receiving US federal funding may not serve people less than 60 years old. US Federally funded programmes may only request voluntary contributions from clients, while other programmes often charge a moderate fee for service. Regardless of their sources of funding, eligibility for most programmes is determined solely by medical need, with financial need and actual ability to pay not making a difference either way.

Some programmes distribute monthly calendars with menus near the end of a month. Weekly menus may appear in local newspapers.

Halifax Meals on Wheels in Nova Scotia currently operate 68 programs across the province; more than 600 volunteers serve an estimated 3400 meals a week. In Halifax, the service is partially funded by the municipality. The United Way also provides funding, depending on how much the program needs. Organizations such as nursing homes and hospitals provide many of the meals; others come from restaurants and private homes. The program isn't just for the elderly; people of any age who live alone often call when they're recovering after a recent hospital stay and are unable to cook for themselves. Other users of Meals on Wheels are people with disabilities such as multiple sclerosis who use the program to help them through a rough time when cooking becomes too difficult. In 1996, 56.7 per cent of clients in Halifax used the service for less than three months.