SENIOR ISOLATION AND HUNGER

Even the most independent among us, if fortunate to live long enough, may experience a decline in mobility or health that can strip away our independence and diminish the quality of our lives. Great advances in medicine have extended our average life expectancy to a record high of 78.7 years. Living longer means more years spent in the struggles that accompany old age. Add to that the increase in geographic mobility of our families and the result is millions of seniors left behind, hungry and alone.

THE PROBLEM WILL INCREASE DRAMATICALLY IN THE COMING YEARS

Headlines alert us to the impact of the aging of America. The “silver tsunami” or "age wave" is already here as over 10,000 Baby Boomers reach the age of 65 every single day. One quarter of today’s 65-year-olds will live past the age of 90 and will experience many of their daily chores turning into insurmountable everyday challenges. These seniors already represent the fastest growing population segment in the U.S.

MOW_GraphsCharts_300_SeniorPopulationGrowth3

THE GREAT COST OF LIVING LONGER

While we all celebrate the increase in lifespan, maintaining health while aging comes with a price. Without support from programs like Meals on Wheels, millions of seniors are forced to prematurely trade their homes for nursing facilities. We can provide a senior Meals on Wheels for an entire year for roughly the same cost as spending one day in the hospital or ten days in a nursing home. Meals on Wheels saves us all billions of dollars in unnecessary Medicaid and Medicare expenses every year – tax dollars that can be spent in much better ways.

MEALS ON WHEELS MAKES A DIFFERENCE
FOR NEARLY 2.4 MILLION SENIORS

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. What started as a compassionate idea has grown into one of the largest and most effective social movements in America, currently helping nearly 2.4 million seniors annually in virtually every community in the country.

TAKING CARE OF THOSE WHO ONCE TOOK CARE OF US

For millions of Americans, Meals on Wheels is literally the difference between remaining in their own homes and needing to relocate to a nursing facility. The nutritious meal, friendly visit and safety check help them cope with three of the biggest threats of aging: hunger, isolation and loss of independence. Research proves that when seniors have the right support, they gain greater quality of life, need fewer hospital stays and live longer.

MEALS ON WHEELS CLIENTS REPORT IMPROVED HEALTH, SECURITY AND INDEPENDENCE

IMPACT THAT GOES WELL BEYOND THE SENIORS WE SERVE

FOR FAMILIES

PROVIDING PEACE OF MIND FOR
LOVED ONES NEAR AND FAR

Millions of American families sleep better at night and can continue their daily routines and responsibilities because they know that Meals on Wheels is keeping a watchful eye over their aging loved ones. When other competing responsibilities make it impossible or difficult for us to be there, Meals on Wheels can make sure our parents, grandparents and others important in our lives are cared for, and that someone is there to raise a red flag if something doesn't seem just right.

FOR COMMUNITIES

WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF
SUPPORTING OUR SENIORS

Meals on Wheels provides the ability for virtually every community across the country to efficiently and compassionately care for their aging neighbors. At the heart of this community solution are more than two million volunteers who keep the wheels turning in urban, suburban and rural communities across America. Serving up friendship and nutrition in both group settings and through deliveries directly to seniors’ homes, Meals on Wheels is making communities stronger, safer and more self-sufficient. That is something we can all be proud of.

AND FOR OUR NATION AS A WHOLE

MEALS ON WHEELS SAVES TAXPAYERS
BILLIONS IN HEALTHCARE COSTS

Great leaders have said the test of any civilization is how it treats those most vulnerable. Meals on Wheels demonstrates our country’s effort to rise up and meet this standard.

The public-private partnership supporting the Meals on Wheels movement is one of the most effective models in America. It enables seniors to remain more healthy and independent in their own homes, where they want to be, avoiding far more costly healthcare alternatives, such as unnecessary trips to the emergency room, hospitalizations and nursing home placements. In turn, everyone benefits from billions of dollars in taxpayer savings.

Over the coming years, the number of seniors in our country will grow exponentially. We have the opportunity to leverage the existing Meals on Wheels infrastructure as the foundational social solution to the challenges that that growth will bring.

THE MEALS ON WHEELS MOVEMENT STARTS WITH YOU

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AGING IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART