Some programs also deliver extra cold food that can be eaten as the evening meal. A person can get meals 1 to 5 days per week. Each agency determines its schedule, menus, charges, and policies. An agency staff member will determine if the person qualifies as being home- bound. This means that the person has great difficulty leaving home due to poor health or other limitations.
Volunteers deliver the meals.
The main purpose of Meals on Wheels is to prepare and deliver meals to home-bound people. Usually, however, the person delivering the meal spends a few minutes talking to the person getting the meal. Having a visitor to the home is a secondary advantage of the program. Most programs charge a small fee for the meals. Some programs have sliding fees based on ability to pay.