Chief Advocacy and Policy Officer Josh Protas Testifies Before Senate Special Committee on Aging on Challenges Facing Sandwich Generation Caregivers

ARLINGTON, Va., May 14, 2026 – Testifying yesterday at the “Caught in the Middle: Supporting Families in the Sandwich Generation” hearing hosted by Senate Special Committee on Aging Chairman Rick Scott (R-FL) and Ranking Member Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Meals on Wheels America’s Chief Advocacy and Policy Officer Josh Protas emphasized the urgent need for increased federal funding for the Older Americans Act (OAA) amid rising costs and demand, while also showcasing how Meals on Wheels providers and the OAA actually save taxpayer dollars and are essential for the sandwich generation.

For more than 60 years, the OAA has supported millions of the nation’s seniors and caregivers through a network of state, regional and local community-based entities. Local Meals on Wheels providers serve as a direct lifeline to those struggling with food insecurity, malnutrition, limited mobility, isolation, loneliness and other challenges to healthy aging. The Meals on Wheels model sets the gold standard for a successful public-private partnership, delivering on the original intent of the OAA and showing great resiliency and adaptability in response to trying circumstances.

For families in the sandwich generation — those simultaneously caring for aging parents and dependent children — rising costs of living, workplace demands, gaps in long-term services and more have placed caregivers squarely in the middle of competing responsibilities. For many of these families and for family caregivers generally, Meals on Wheels is not simply a meal program — it is a foundational support that helps older adults remain independent, safe, connected and nourished at home while easing the emotional, time and financial burdens on family caregivers.

During his testimony, Protas said, “Too many families are left to absorb the consequences [of rising food and fuel costs] on their own. That challenge is only growing, with 12,000 people in America turning 60 years old every day, and more older adults struggling to afford their basic needs.” He also explained, “The relatively small upfront federal investment to provide Meals on Wheels services is smart fiscal policy because it prevents more costly interventions downstream.” Meals on Wheels America is urging Congress to prioritize this investment in our nation’s seniors by fully funding the OAA Nutrition Program at $2.285 in the fiscal year 2027 appropriations process.

Meals on Wheels delivers so much more than a meal. Family caregiving can often feel like a 24/7 job, with little to no opportunity for a break. Meals on Wheels services support caregivers by reducing time spent on household tasks, allowing caregivers to have a much-needed break, providing predictability and reliability for meeting the daily nutritional needs of aging loved ones, offering peace of mind and serving as an early warning system when health or safety concerns arise. But without proper funding, Meals on Wheels providers cannot ensure seniors and caregivers alike receive this essential support. In fact, due to inadequate federal funding, currently one in three local Meals on Wheels providers maintains a waitlist, with seniors waiting on average four months for vital meals and moments of human connection, and in some cases for two or more years.

Committee Member Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) emphasized this sentiment: “By hearing what we’re talking about today, I hope that many who feel invisible or lonely realize that there are many of us going through this together.”

Senior nutrition programs are not only effective, but extremely efficient, so investing in them isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s smart policy. Meals on Wheels providers can deliver nutritious meals, moments of connection and other supportive services that help seniors remain living independently at home for an entire year for roughly the same cost as one day in the hospital or 12 days in a long-term care facility. These programs save lives and taxpayer dollars, and they can do even more if Congress adequately invests in them.

To learn more and take action to support the 2.5 million low-income, food insecure seniors who are not receiving the Meals on Wheels services they need and deserve, visit MealsOnWheelsAmerica.org/increasefunding.

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ABOUT MEALS ON WHEELS AMERICA
Meals on Wheels America is the leadership organization supporting approximately 5,000 community-based providers across the country dedicated to addressing senior hunger and isolation. Powered by a trusted volunteer workforce, this network delivers a comprehensive solution that begins with a meal and is proven to enable independence and well-being through the additional benefits of tailored nutrition, social connection, safety and much more. Through public awareness, funding, programming, education, research and advocacy, Meals on Wheels America empowers local providers to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time. At a time when demand for Meals on Wheels services is growing, and many seniors are left waiting, Meals on Wheels America is dedicated to helping End the Wait®  and ensuring every senior who needs Meals on Wheels gets it. For more information, or to locate a Meals on Wheels provider near you, visit www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org. You can also find Meals on Wheels America on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, Bluesky, TikTok and X.