Editor:
From one senior (high school) to another senior (citizen), I’d like to share a wonderful service that is underutilized in our community. Meals on Wheels is the only federally supported program designed specifically to meet the nutritional and social needs of seniors. During this time of COVID-19, senior citizens are the most vulnerable and at-risk population in our community. Utilizing this service is a way to protect our seniors. The information I am including in this letter can be found on the organization’s website.
After researching the Meals on Wheels program, I found their statistics staggering. One in four seniors live alone. One in five feel lonely. As people get older, even the most independent seniors may experience physical declines or financial hardship that strips away their independence. Add to that an increase in geographic mobility of our families, and the result is millions of seniors in our country are left behind, hungry and alone. While hunger and isolation can affect anyone with limited mobility and declining health, financial strain makes them much worse.
Meals on Wheels offers a service for people 60 and older. It is coordinated through Milestones Area Agency for our residents in Wilton and Muscatine County. A hot meal is delivered every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Prepackaged cold meals, that only require re-heating, are distributed with the hot meal deliveries for Tuesday and Thursday.
Depending on individual circumstances, meals may be provided along a sliding fee scale, from no cost to full price. The suggested per meal price is $5, however no senior will be denied a meal because of an inability to pay. There is monthly menu available. To sign up call Heather Whittemore at 563-260-9221.
The Wilton Meal Site manager is Terry Simester. Under the current circumstances the meal site gathering place downtown is closed. He continues to do administrative work and delivers meals only. He calls to check in with the person before delivery. The interaction is much more limited during this time, due to safety concerns. Normally, his frequent in-home visits provide a unique opportunity to meet nutritional needs, combat social isolation, address safety hazards and provide holistic care.
When the site is open, Terry is on-site offering social opportunities. Seniors can play cards, games or simply socialize. They eat their meals together at the meal site. Terry is excited to grow the program and have more senior interaction on-site when it reopens.
I am proud that my community has stepped up in so many ways to help others in time of need. My hope is to get the message out to our senior citizens that Meals on Wheels is a great service and I ask you to please consider.
Taylor Garvin
Wilton