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MEALS ON WHEELS AND HEALTHCARE

MEALS ON WHEELS AND HEALTHCARE

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    BILLIONS OF VISITS. MILLIONS IN SAVINGS.

    IMPROVING HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR VULNERABLE SENIORS AND
    THE HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE THEM

    A nutritious meal is only the start of the value Meals on Wheels can deliver to keep your most vulnerable members healthy.

    For nearly 50 years, Meals on Wheels has touched the lives of millions of seniors, providing them with the nutrition they need and human contact they desire. But the benefits of this care and compassion go far beyond, driving notable improvements in their health and your bottom line.

    Staff and volunteers from the nationwide Meals on Wheels network are the “eyes and ears” in the homes of your most at-risk members. Put us to work to observe firsthand any changes in their physical or mental conditions. Learn more about our services here.

    WE IDENTIFY RISKS BEFORE THEY BECOME PROBLEMS;
    ADDRESS PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY BECOME HEALTH ISSUES;
    AND SOLVE HEALTH ISSUES BEFORE THEY BECOME CATASTROPHIC AND COSTLY.

    SHARE IN THE TRUST WE'VE EARNED

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    When Meals on Wheels knocks on the door, vulnerable seniors open it with a smile. Being invited into the homes of millions of the nation’s most high-risk seniors and disabled individuals is an honor and privilege. It’s also the first and one of the most effective lines of defense in avoiding additional healthcare costs.

    Every visit comes with a nutritious meal created to address the specific health conditions of the senior, a safety check around the house and an assessment of any changes that might impact future medical needs. This can mean the difference between independent living at home and an unwelcome transfer to a costly long-term care facility.

    CARING IS COST-EFFECTIVE

    While Meals on Wheels feeds both the body and soul, it also creates a profound effect on lowering healthcare costs. One in four of today’s seniors lives alone, increasing their chances of high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. Meals on Wheels can be a valuable asset for healthcare providers and insurers by helping to avoid unnecessary hospitalizations, reducing hospital readmissions and post-discharge needs through daily nutrition, socialization and safety checks.

    In fact, 81% of the people we serve say Meals on Wheels improves their health. Now multiply that over the hundreds of thousands of home visits we make every week, and the number of healthier and happier seniors adds up in your favor.

    Healthcare providers are continually looking to deliver efficient and cost-saving services, and Meals on Wheels can bring our special brand of service to your senior members.

    IT'S WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY.

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    OUR SERVICES AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

    We’re able to tap into our nationwide network of local, community-based programs to serve virtually any geography in the country. Choose between the services below, or let us customize a plan to meet your exact needs.


    • Long-term preventative services, including nutrition, socialization, safety checks and connections to community services. 

    • Short-term post-discharge services, including nutrition, socialization and safety checks. Customizable depending on the needs of the provider.

    HEALTHCARE PARTNER NEWS

    INNOVATION HEALTH DONATES $95,000 TO SUPPORT THE ADVANCEMENT OF MEALS ON WHEELS AMERICA’S HEALTHCARE INITIATIVES

    Apr 24, 2019

    ARLINGTON, V.A., April 24, 2019 - Meals on Wheels America announced today that Innovation Health, a multi-faceted health benefits and insurance company, made a $95,000 contribution. This donation will support efforts to more fully integrate Meals on Wheels into the healthcare system, as well as expand the nutrition and wellness services they provide for at-risk homebound seniors.

    “Innovation Health truly walks the talk. This extremely generous contribution underscores a growing recognition of the pivotal role that addressing social determinants of health plays in maintaining an individual’s health and well-being,” said Ellie Hollander, President and Chief Executive Officer, Meals on Wheels America. “We very much appreciate Innovation Health’s validation of how public-private partnerships like Meals on Wheels can serve a rapidly growing high-need, high-risk population and help bend the healthcare cost curve to the benefit of individuals and communities in Virginia and across the country.”

    Innovation Health, which was launched in 2013, is the result of a partnership between Inova and Aetna, a CVS Health Company. Through this joint venture, both parties work together to deliver effective, local care coordination for members throughout northern Virginia. And, they strive to facilitate connections within the community to improve member experiences and health outcomes.

    “We strongly believe that Meals on Wheels is a critical part of the healthcare continuum, serving as both a preventative and transitional care solution among a particularly vulnerable population. Nutritious home-delivered meals, combined with a friendly visit and safety check, can mean the difference between living a healthy and independent life at home or ending up in the hospital,” said Dr. Sunil Budhrani, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Medical Officer, Innovation Health. “Our contribution reinforces our commitment to further enable these important community-based organizations to deliver innovative and personalized care that does not stop at the walls of a doctor’s office.”

    For more information on Meals on Wheels America’s healthcare initiatives, visit www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/health.

    Innovation Health

    About Innovation Health
    Innovation Health provides health benefit plans to more than 130,000 members. The result of a unique partnership between Aetna, a CVS Health business and Inova Health System, Innovation Health was formed in 2013 as a new way to deliver and finance more affordable, quality health care for employers and individuals in Northern Virginia, Maryland and D.C. Through its integrated care model, Innovation Health combines a premier health plan, health system, and physicians for improved health outcomes and cost savings. For more information on Innovation Health visit InnovationHealth.com.

    About Meals on Wheels America
    Meals on Wheels America is the leadership organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior isolation and hunger. 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. By providing funding, leadership, education, research and advocacy support, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time. For more information, or to find a Meals on Wheels provider near you, visit www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org.

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    Press Contact:
    Jenny Young 
    Meals on Wheels America
    571-339-1603
    jenny@mealsonwheelsamerica.org

    Meals on Wheels America

    AMERICA'S SENIORS NEED YOU

    Your gift will help us support the local programs that keep seniors safe and living independently nationwide.

    DONATE NOW

    CONNECT WITH US


    To learn more about how Meals on Wheels Health and our nationwide network can provide cost-effective healthcare solutions, contact Ipyana Spencer, Chief Health Officer, Meals on Wheels Health.

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