From Waitlist to Wellness: How Meals on Wheels Changed Daily Life

The Impact of Nutritious Meals for Seniors in Hospice Care

Michael Rothery spends most of his days bedridden. Prostate cancer has weakened his body and voice, and affected his cognitive functions. He speaks in a raspy, whispery, labored tone, continues to lose weight and struggles to access short-term memories. Michael no longer receives chemotherapy and has entered in-home hospice. The focus is on keeping him comfortable and well nourished. Despite his prognosis, Michael, a native of St. Louis, Missouri, has maintained his spirit and enthusiasm for recalling significant moments in his life: arriving in San Antonio with $20 in his pocket in 1979; his proud service in the U.S. Navy; and a post-military career as a construction worker, miner and 29-year employee of Sherwin-Williams — snapshots of a life well lived and hard earned.

Michael and his wife, Rose Rothery, receive Meals on Wheels and are profoundly grateful for its impact on their lives, especially after Michael and Rose spent nearly four months on the waitlist from November 2024 to March 2025.

“The community is special because Meals on Wheels is in it,” Michael says of their lower-middle-income area, where many struggle financially. “Meals on Wheels has come in and lifted their nutrition and their outlook on life. You can’t do any better than that for people.”

In the years since the discovery and advancement of Michael’s cancer, Rose has taken on primary caregiving duties, including cleaning, driving, preparing meals and helping him take his medication. Until recently, Rose also served as the primary caregiver for their wheelchair-bound niece. The decision to put her in a nursing home was hard but necessary. The strain of caring for both family members had become too much for Rose. Before Meals on Wheels San Antonio, the couple, who still benefit from the kindness of neighbors to pick up groceries and the occasional help of their daughter, survived on a steady diet of eggs, oats, Nestle liquid cereal, macaroni and cheese and hamburger patties.

This meal plan provided the necessary vitamins to help Michael’s ailing body and provided easy-to-consume options. Yet, the meals lacked nutritional variety, one of the many things Michael loves about Meals on Wheels, which they receive five days a week.

“There are all kinds of different foods here that we never made,” Michael says. “Every day is a surprise, and every day is a good plate of food, and we love it.”

Why Variety and Nutrition Matter for Senior Health

Michael, who has studied nutrition for years as a side interest, particularly enjoys exploring the monthly menu and the fun assortment of healthy options such as chili, Spanish rice, garlic mashed potatoes (one of his favorites), peas and carrots, fresh fruit and more. The meals they receive strike a balance between flavor and nutritional value, one of his favorite features.

“I know when I get this, I’m getting what the body needs every day, not every other day, but every day,” Michael asserts.

“It’s a double whammy,” Michael says. “ It tastes good and it is good for you.” The meals also support Rose’s well-being. Before receiving them, the stress of juggling multiple household responsibilities and caring for Michael led to life-threatening exhaustion and frequent doctor’s visits. Now, she only visits her doctor for her annual check ups. Michael and Rose can focus on their health, nutrition and comfort thanks to the relief and bursts of joy provided by Meals on Wheels. “It’s something that brings us a smile every day,” Michael says.