Meals on Wheels???

[Bluesaph]

Hi everyone. My diabetic mom is coming to stay with us for six weeks from Costa Rica. She is 77 years old and has so many health issues it’s hard to understand them all. Most of her medicines are covered in Costa Rica and she is bringing those and we will buy what we have to buy here.

She is on a super restrictive diet. And she has to eat her three meals a day plus her snacks. Since our family doesn’t share her diet and in order for me not to have to shop and cook two meals for each meal period we thought we might look at Meals on Wheels.

But when I Google them in our area it takes me to only donation sites. Does anyone know of a service like meals on wheels or how I can investigate how to get mom set up?

Appreciate all your help!

[niyad]

1. Do you have Silver Key? Or check with some of the churches in your area.

Some around here actually provide meal service.

[Lars39]

2. Not sure she would qualify...

https://www.elderguru.com/who-qualifies-for-meals-on-wheels/
It might be easier to cook diabetic meals for everyone instead.

[MissB]

3. Check with your local (county level) adult services

They can probably give you the contact for meals on wheels.

[BlackSkimmer]

4. Yes, this is the place to go for information.

Most counties have senior services and programs.

[dclarston13]

5. Most services cook for hundreds of people

And will probably not be able to meet her specific needs. Is there a Central American area in your area?

[snowybirdie]

6. We were drivers

The service was through our county. But all meals are the same, and come from a central kitchen. No restrictive diets apply. Perhaps check with the medical Association that provides information like Kidney Foundation or Diabetes Association could help? Good luck.

[viva la]

7. I deliver for Meals on Wheels

It would be locally based. You can put in your zip code here to see if there's one around you. https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/find-meals
There are probably rural and remote areas that don't have the service, but there might be another option available through Senior Services, whatever your county calls it.


Not all sites would have a diabetic option. Mine does-- but it's a big city hospital kitchen doing the meals, and they have all the dietetic options.

The good thing about MoW is that it's subsidized, but you might need a doctor's RX for it. I'm sure they'd work with you if there's one near you.

Consider looking into meal services like those listed here: https://www.momsmeals.com/our-food/how-it-works/

But they are not cheap! You can probably get the ones that you can just pop into the microwave (no prep).

Do check with your local council on aging or American Diabetes Association. They'll have some good suggestions, I'm sure.


From that Mom's Meals site, which does have a diabetic option-
Self-pay Individuals:
We offer a self-pay program for those without an eligible health plan or who don’t qualify for government assistance, but still want the convenience of home-delivered meals for themselves or a loved one.

This program offers nine health-condition menus with a variety of meal options. You choose every meal, every delivery. Affordable at only $7.99/meal.* Flat rate shipping fee applies.
https://www.momsmeals.com/our-food/how-it-works/

[Rebl2]

8. I got

MOW for my parents through a senior organization called Shepherd Center in my area. I don’t know if SC is a national organization or just local in our metropolitan area. Meals on Wheels doesn’t, as far as I know in my area, make meals for each person's specific needs. Meals on wheels fee kept going up every year when my parents were on it. It had gone up to at least one hundred dollars a month total for them before they went to a nursing home. That was three years ago.

[CentralMass]

9. Some Diabetic meal delivery service ranked.

https://www.deliveryrank.com/best-meal-delivery-services-for-a-diabetic-diet-m?cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=10809571084&cq_term=diabetic%20meals%20delivered&cq_plac=&cq_net=g&cq_plt=gp&gmsl=9032917&gclid=Cj0KCQjwguGYBhDRARIsAHgRm4_qewEnhW4Ak_aOeturk0vAhy1hqNA4m2G5ho4SZSccRoQ50vOqhWsaApacEALw_wcB

[SheltieLover]

10. Check with your local Council on Aging & your senior center

Good luck!

[2naSalit]

11. I used to cook for the Senior Lunch Program...

And Meals on Wheels in a small community for a couple years. The meals are cafeteria style one meat entree with a carb a veg and a desert. No specialized diets unless you are in a big city and some senior center provides some specialized fare, which is a possibility since there are so many diabetics.

You might want to look into some of those food delivery services that have already prepped food or easy to prepare meals, they might have specialized diet options. I see ads for them all the time though I don't know if they have spec diets.

[Hekate]

12. Check with Area Agency on Aging to see what they say

[Bluesaph]

13. Thank you!

I will investigate all these options. I just knew DU would come through.

[alphafemale]

14. Your mother is 77. I am pretty sure she can manage if you give her kitchen space.

She'll manage.

[Bluesaph]

17. You're right technically

But my mom is 77 going on 10. Totally helpless. We have had to pay someone to do everything for her for a year already. She’s in the condition she’s in because she doesn’t know how to take care of herself.

I miss my mom and am looking forward to being with her. The only thing is that the stress of the meals is already getting to me and triggering my fibromyalgia. Also knowing I have to clean out my kitchen so she doesn’t sneak and eat something she’s not supposed to. She’s gone near diabetic coma several times already due to lack of self control. And on the other end of it is any salt in her diet at all messes with other things…. Very challenging diet.

It’s gonna be a challenge with a growing and hungry son and my husband but it is what it is.

I am now looking into a meal prep service. But even that will mean I have to prep her food for her.

[H2O Man]

18. You don't need to explain.

Unless that person knows your mother, there is no way they can be "pretty sure" of what your Mom can and cannot do.

[Bluesaph]

19. You're right.

Thanks.