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Home Delivered Meals
Are you having difficulty preparing meals? Are you no longer able to go out
to eat like you used to? Is there no one in the household who can prepare a
meal?
Home Delivered Meals may be a program that can improve your nutrition, and,
ultimately, your health.
The Mifflin-Juniata Area Agency on Aging Inc. is a private nonprofit
organization. The Agency coordinates many programs and activities. The Home
Delivered Meal Program is one of the in-home programs designed to promote a
healthy safe lifestyle in your home.
What are Home Delivered Meals?
Home Delivered Meals are meals sent from the Area Agency on Aging to people
age 60 and over who are not able to prepare or obtain a nutritious meal.
These meals are a geriatric diet meaning they are low salt and low sugar.
Special diets such as no salt
and no sugar meals are not available.
Home delivered meals are delivered hot from local area Senior Centers up
to five days a week. Frozen and shelf-stable meals are also available to be
used on days when the Centers are not open.
Who is eligible to receive Home Delivered
Meals?
In addition to being 60 years of age or older, consumers must be determined
to be in need of meals delivered to the home. This means that you must be
physically or mentally unable to prepare a nutritious meal, attend a Senior
Center, or obtain a meal, for instance one prepared by another member of your
household. It is generally healthier to join others at a senior center or to
keep active by preparing meals. However, there are many instances when this
is no longer possible. In these cases, Home Delivered Meals can be a great
asset in keeping you healthy and independent.
How do I make arrangements for Home
Delivered Meals?
Home Delivered Meals, as well as other in-home services, are based on your
need for help. You may call the Agency or have someone call on your behalf.
If you need help in your home, you will be assigned a care manager who will
arrange to meet with you and complete a thorough assessment to determine what
daily tasks are difficult for you to complete, and what help might be needed.
Based on the needs that you and your care manager identify, a care plan will
be developed, including meals, if appropriate.
Your care manager will also do regular reassessments to determine if your
need for help has changed.
How can I help to be sure I get my meals?
There are some important things you can do to be sure meals arrive at your
home when you (and others) need them. Drivers may not leave a meal unless
they see you.
- Be
home when it's time for your meal to arrive.
- Call
the Senior Center that delivers your meal if you will be away.
- Notify
the Senior Center manager or the person who delivers your meal if you
have used all of your frozen meals that arc to be used if the Center is
closed.
Do I have to pay for the meals?
There is not a charge for Home Delivered Meals. However, you will receive a
statement. This is not a bill. The letter explains the number of meals you
received and the cost to the Agency for these meals. An envelope will be
included for your use to make a contribution towards the cost of these meals.
Your donations really do help!
What Is a "Special Gift" to show appreciation for the help that the
meals provide?
Government funding is important but can not begin
cover the cost for the thousands of meals delivered each year. Everyone can
help. Volunteers are needed to help with the packaging and delivery of meals.
Also, special gifts such as gifting or memorial gifts in honor or in memory
of beloved family are greatly appreciated. What a great way to show
appreciation for the help that was received, and to extend this help to
others who are in need!
Inquires
may be made by calling: 1-800-348-2277 or (717)-242-0315
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