Organization: MEALS ON WHEELS OF RI INC
Mission: TO MEET NUTRITIONAL AND OTHER SPECIAL NEEDS OF THE ELDERLY IN ORDER TO HELP THEM MAINTAIN THEIR INDEPENDENT LIFESTYLES.
Activities: HOME DELIVERED MEAL PROGRAM - MEALS ON WHEELS OF RHODE ISLAND ("MOWRI") IS THE ONLY NON-PROFIT HOME DELIVERED PROGRAM IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND. NO OTHER AGENCY PROVIDES A PACKAGED, PREPARED MEAL TO THE HOMES OF OUR FRAILEST NEIGHBORS. IN ADDITION TO A NUTRITIOUS READY-TO-EAT MEAL, THE DELIVERY PERSON ALSO OFFERS A SAFETY CHECK TO ENSURE THE WELL-BEING OF OUR CLIENTS EVERY DELIVERY DAY. DURING 2019, THIS PROGRAM DELIVERED 308,636 MEALS TO 2,563 HOMEBOUND RECIPIENTS. INCLUDED IN THIS COUNT ARE 6,875 EMERGENCY SHELF STABLE MEALS FOR OCCASIONS WHEN WE ARE UNABLE TO DELIVER DUE TO SEVERE WEATHER OR UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. MOWRI'S HOME DELIVERED PROGRAM DELIVERS MEALS TO THOSE AGED 60 OR OLDER (OR THOSE WHO ARE YOUNGER AND QUALIFIED THROUGH A STATE FUNDED PROGRAM) WHO ARE HOMEBOUND AND UNABLE TO PREPARE MEALS FOR THEMSELVES DUE TO A PHYSICAL OR PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITION. QUALIFIED HOME DELIVERED PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WILL RECEIVE ON FIVE DAYS A WEEK, ONE LUNCHTIME MEAL MEETING THE NUTRITIONAL STANDARD AS SET IN THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT. ALL MENUS ARE DEVELOPED BY A REGISTERED NUTRITIONIST AND ADAPTED TO MEET THE PREFERENCES OF OUR CLIENTS.CLIENT ELIGIBILITY IS VERIFIED THROUGH THE REFERRAL PROCESS. THE CLIENT, THEIR FAMILY MEMBER, HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL OR ANYONE WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THE PERSON CAN MAKE A REFERRAL BY PHONE OR THROUGH OUR WEBSITE. ONCE IT IS DETERMINED THAT THE CLIENT IS AGED 60 OR OLDER (OR HAS A QUALIFYING DISABILITY) AND IS HOMEBOUND, THEY ARE APPROVED FOR SERVICE. CLIENT INFORMATION, NUTRITIONAL NEEDS AND PREFERENCES, NUMBER OF MEALS RECEIVED AND OTHER INFORMATION REQUIRED TO MEET REPORTING GUIDELINES, IS MAINTAINED IN THE SERVTRACKER DATABASE.THE MEALS ARE PREPARED AND PACKAGED BY THE CONTRACTED CATERER BEFORE BEING DROPPED OFF AT APPROXIMATELY 22 STATEWIDE LOCATIONS WHERE A DEDICATED SPACE HAS BEEN DONATED. THE TRAINED DRIVERS PICK UP THE MEALS FROM THAT SPACE AND DELIVER TO THE HOMES OF RECIPIENTS IN THEIR COMMUNITY. THE MEALS ARE DELIVERED IN A CHILLED STATE SO THAT THE CLIENT CAN REHEAT-BY MICROWAVE OR CONVENTIONAL OVEN-AT THE TIME THEY PREFER TO EAT. THE DRIVER WILL HELP ANY CLIENT THAT REQUIRES ASSISTANCE AND A MICROWAVE WILL BE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE IF NEEDED. THERE IS NO SET CHARGE FOR THE MEAL, BUT A DONATION OF $3.00 IS SUGGESTED.IF A CLIENT DOES NOT RESPOND TO A DRIVER'S ATTEMPT TO DELIVER THE MEAL,THE DRIVER CONTACTS OUR MAIN OFFICE. A STAFF MEMBER WILL FIRST TRY TO CONTACT THE CLIENT. IF UNSUCCESSFUL, THEY WILL CALL THE EMERGENCY CONTACT ON FILE TO DETERMINE THE CONDITION OF THE CLIENT. IF WE ARE UNABLE TO CONNECT WITH ANYONE, A CALL WILL BE PLACED REQUESTING THE LOCAL POLICE TO DO A WELLNESS CHECK.IN A RECENT STUDY FROM THE ADMINISTRATION ON AGING, SENIORS WHO RECEIVED DAILY-DELIVERED MEALS REPORTED MARKED IMPROVEMENTS IN MENTAL HEALTH, SELF-RATED HEALTH, AND REDUCTIONS IN FEELINGS OF ISOLATION;THEY ALSO SHOWED GREATER IMPROVEMENT IN ANXIETY, AND REDUCED RATES OF HOSPITALIZATION AND FALLS. OUR APPROACH IS ALSO COST-EFFECTIVE: MEALS ON WHEELS OF RI CAN DELIVER A YEAR'S WORTH OF MEALS TO A CLIENT FOR THE SAME COST AS ONE DAY IN THE HOSPITAL OR ONE WEEK IN A NURSING HOME WHICH SAVES THE STATE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN MEDICAID AND MEDICARE COSTS.
CAPITOL CITY CAFE AND RESTAURANT PROGRAM - THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND DIVISION OF ELDERLY AFFAIRS HAS DIVIDED THE STATE INTO FIVE REGIONS FOR CONGREGATE MEALS; THE CAPITAL CITY CAFE PROGRAM IS THE DESIGNATED PROVIDER FOR THE SITES IN PROVIDENCE, INCLUDING A MONTHLY LGBT FRIENDLY SITE. ADDITIONALLY, THE PROGRAM MANAGES THE RESTAURANT PROGRAM THROUGHOUT MUCH OF THE STATE. DURING 2019, THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDED 25,758 MEALS TO 595 SENIORS.TO QUALIFY FOR THE CAPITAL CITY CAFE, ONE MUST ONLY BE AGED 60 OR OLDER. PARTICIPATION FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS SHOULD RESULT NOT ONLY IN IMPROVED NUTRITION, BUT ALSO IN INCREASED SOCIALIZATION AND ENHANCED KNOWLEDGE FROM THE PROVIDED NUTRITIONAL EDUCATION.QUALIFIED PARTICIPANTS WILL RECEIVE ONE LUNCH TIME AND/OR ONE EVENING MEAL TO BE EATEN AT THE CAPITAL CITY CAFE SITE. INTERESTED DINERS WILL BE ASKED TO COMPLETE A PIF (PERSONAL INFORMATION FORM) TO VERIFY ELIGIBILITY BEFORE RECEIVING THEIR FIRST MEAL. ONCE THE PIF HAS BEEN COMPLETED, THE PARTICIPANT ONLY HAS TO LET THE SITE KNOW WHICH DAYS THEY INTEND TO HAVE A MEAL AT THE SITE AND ARRIVE ON THOSE DAYS BY THE APPOINTED MEAL TIME. THE PIF CAN BE COMPLETED DURING THE FIRST VISIT TO A CAFE LOCATION.OUR CONTRACTED CATERER PREPARES THE APPROPRIATE NUMBER OF MEALS MEETING THE CURRENT DIETARY REQUIREMENTS. THE CAFE MEALS ARRIVE IN BULK, HOT AND READY TO BE SERVED IN DONATED SPACE IN A COMMUNITY CENTER OR SENIOR HOUSING COMPLEX. A PUB OR SPA OPTION IS ALSO OFFERED AS AN ALTERNATE CHOICE. A TRAINED, VOLUNTEER SITE MANAGER AND TRAINED ASSISTANTS AS NEEDED, SERVE THE MEAL TO QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS. THERE IS NO SET CHARGE FOR THE MEAL, BUT DINERS ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A CONFIDENTIAL DONATION; $3.00 PER MEAL IS SUGGESTED.QUALIFIED CLIENTS MAY ALSO ENJOY A MEAL IN A LOCATION PARTICIPATING IN THE RESTAURANT PROGRAM BY OBTAINING A VOUCHER (FOR A $5.00 SUGGESTED DONATION) AT OUR OFFICE OR BY MAIL. THE CLIENT VISITS THE RESTAURANT,PRESENTS THE VOUCHER TO THE STAFF AND SELECTS AN OPTION FROM A MENU OF MEALS THAT MEETS OUR NUTRITION REQUIREMENTS, PLACES THEIR ORDER AND LEAVES THE VOUCHER AT THE RESTAURANT AS 'PAYMENT' FOR THEIR MEAL. A TOTAL OF 13 LOCATIONS PARTICIPATED DURING 2019.
NTEE category: Human Services
Secondary category: Food, Agriculture & Nutrition