How can I get help from Meals on Wheels of Austin – Central Texas?

What services do Meals on Wheels of Austin Texas provide?

Author: Attorney Lonnie Roach

In addition to the its original meal delivery program, Meals on Wheels has added several other programs to help the disadvantaged including:

•    breakfast meals,
•   meals for kids,
•   county meals for those in rural areas,
•   Pals to help with pets,
•   Handy Wheels for home repairs
•   Mike’s place to help those with Alzheimer’s.

In addition to its original meal delivery program, Meals on Wheels of Austin has added several other programs to help the disadvantaged

Many people are familiar with Meals on Wheels, the organization that delivers weekly meals to homebound seniors and people with disabilities throughout the Austin area.

Each client receives one hot meal per day on a weekly basis with the option of receiving additional frozen meals for the weekend. In addition to living in the Greater Austin Area, to be eligible a person must be homebound and without daytime help, unable to prepare a meal on their own, and be able to accept meals during the scheduled delivery time. Using the slogan Meals on Wheels and More, it now serves other segments of the population through a variety of programs to meet the social and nutritional needs of the Greater Austin community.

In addition to the original meal delivery program, Meals on Wheels has added several meal programs which include children and adults.

•   Breakfast Meals. Weekly supplemental breakfast meals are delivered to Central Texans who have limited access to adequate nutritious food.
•   Meals for Kids. In partnership with Communities in Schools and the Housing Authority of the City of Austin, this program provides healthy snacks to children of low-income families who attend after-school programs in public housing communities.
•   Country Wheels. Delivery of one frozen meal per week to seniors who live in rural areas not covered by other Meals on Wheels programs. The counties covered include Bastrop, Caldwell, Fayette, Lee, Williamson, The Village of Bear Creek area of Hays County and Northeast and Southeast Travis County.
•   HOPE (Healthy Options Programs for the Elderly). Volunteers deliver non-perishable groceries to seniors and people with disabilities on the second Saturday of each month.
•   Groceries to Go. Volunteers assist clients who are able to cook and get around by providing transportation, help with shopping, and putting away groceries. If a client is mobility impaired, volunteers can collect payment and do the grocery shopping for the client. Volunteers may also pick up prescriptions.
•   Senior Centers. Meals on Wheels provides a lunchtime meal and social activities for seniors at 14 community centers throughout Austin.

Part of the organization’s mission is to provide assistance that enables seniors and disabled people to live in their homes and “age in place.”

Over the years, Meals on Wheels has expanded its services to assist clients with in-home care, home repairs, and care of their pets. The following programs help elderly and disabled people live healthy, independent lives by assisting with daily tasks.

In Home Care.

Meals on Wheels now provides personal caregivers to assist clients with daily tasks such as

•    bathing and grooming;
•   meal preparation;
•   medication reminders and prescription pickup; and
•   medical appointments.

Caregivers can also assist with light housework, laundry, and shopping and offer respite care to family caregivers.

Services are based on income and offered on a sliding scale basis to people living at or below the poverty level. Financial assistance may be available through various government or private agencies.

Home Repair.

This program provides home safety repairs and accessibility modifications to homes for seniors and the disabled. Major structural changes may be involved such as building a ramp or replacing a damaged one. This program is available in Travis, Williamson, Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Burnet and Blanco counties.

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Handy Wheels.

This program provides minor home repairs and safety-related related repairs for seniors and adults with disabilities.

PALS (Pets Assisting the Lives of Seniors).

Pets and service animals provide seniors with companionship while relieving loneliness and isolation. Meals on Wheels helps its clients care for their pets by delivering cat and dog food and assisting with necessary veterinary care. Over the years, PALS volunteers noticed that clients were postponing surgeries and medical care that required a hospital stay because they did not want to leave their pets. At first, temporary foster care with volunteers was organized, but with the assistance of Austin Dogtown Boarding and Daycare, short-term boarding for dogs can be arranged. This service is only available to people who have no other resources like a friend or family member to care for their pet.

Telehealth Treatment for Depression.

Meals on Wheels recognizes that older adults face a high risk of depression and has partnered with The University of Texas School of Social Work to provide free, short-term treatment to adults over 50 to help manage depression.

Mike’s Place.

Twice weekly Meals on Wheels sponsors a program for adults with Alzheimer’s and memory loss at its offices in Austin. Mike’s Place provides social activities and support for individuals as well as caregivers

Meals on Wheels’ positive impact on the community stretches beyond Austin and the elderly. In 2017, the organization served 757,237 meals, provided 181,426 hours on in-home care, and repaired, renovated or remodeled 138 homes. As its website declares, Meals on Wheels is truly “More Than a Meal.”