Meals On Wheels
Meals On Wheels
More Than Just a Meal
Meals on Wheels clients receive support to extend their independence and health as they age. This takes place in the form of a week’s worth of meals delivered to their home, as well as important social interaction with caring, trained volunteers. These visits, which also serve as a regular wellness checks, often turn into lasting friendships.
Our Meals on Wheels service has primarily shifted to frozen meal deliveries. These frozen meals provide the same total nutrients as the hot meals over the course of a week. Please call to see if you are eligible to receive daily hot meals.
NOTICE TO NEW INQUIRIES
There is a pause on all new private-pay meal plans. We are unable to offer self-pay meal service until further notice. If you are a current private-pay recipient and are concerned about your service, please feel free to contact us at (828) 692-6693.
- All meals are low fat/low salt and meet the one-third recommended dietary allowance set by the USDA.
- All meals are diabetic friendly.
- Soft, vegetarian, and no pork meal options are available by request.
- Meals are delivered between 10:30 am and 1:30 pm
- If you will not be available during delivery times, you MUST let us know by 12:00 pm the business day prior*. After three late cancellations or missed meals within 6 months, a recipient will be discharged from the grant funded home-delivered meals program.
* Please note: cancellations are due no later than 12:00 pm on the preceding Friday for Monday deliveries.*
Important: The following must be completed in order to properly submit a referral.
1. The emergency contact must be completed, and the phone number must be different than the client’s phone number.
2. The emergency contact phone number must be working. Not having an emergency contact will prevent your referral from processing.
3. Email is not mandatory, but preferred when addressing issues with new referrals.
4. Please do not call to check on status until 10 business days have elapsed.
Program Referral Form - please fully complete all questions. Incomplete or missing information may delay or disqualify your referral.
Eligibility Requirements
- Applicant must be a resident of Henderson County, NC
- Age 60 or above
- Homebound: mentally or physically unable to leave the home more than once per week.
- Mentally or physically unable to use public transportation.
- Unable to prepare nutritious meals regularly.
- Must not have a caregiver in the home who can prepare meals.
- Important Note: Lack of a motor vehicle does not meet homebound criteria.
- Important Note: Poverty level does not determine eligibility.
For Existing Clients:
Frozen Meal Heating Instructions
Nutrition Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 4:00pm
Nutrition Office General Line: (828) 692-6693
Get Started
Current waiting List: 152 individuals
Current wait time: 276 days
Before you submit a referral, please click the hyperlink below to see if you are eligible.
Am I Eligible for Meals on Wheels? (pdf)
Our online referral form is back up. All social workers, caseworkers, and senior services professionals must submit the online form. *The form is faster than the phone*
Last updated: May 2024
Are you a social worker, caseworker or senior services professional submitting this referral? Please completely answer every question. Leaving questions blank or incomplete/incorrect entries can cause your referral to be rejected. Accepted referrals can expect a call within ten (10) business days.
Not Just Long Term
Rehab, post-op, medical treatments, transition of caregiver, and other short-term scenarios are also great opportunities to take advantage of the service. Please be aware that you may only be a temporary recipient for up to 180 days.
We love to be able to help you through a temporary need and to get back on your feet again.
Don't Need a Meal Every Day?
Do you have a regularly scheduled appointment each week?
No problem. You can set up your meals to skip certain days of the week as long as you receive meals at least three days a week, each week.
Individuals who are in an alternative care or adult daycare program more than twice a week are ineligible for this service.
Waiting List
Unfortunately, the demand for services greatly outweighs the supply of grant funding. When this is the case, we will add you or your loved one to the waiting list.
The waiting list is prioritized based on need. When a spot opens up, we reach out to the person with the greatest need that has been waiting the longest. Please be advised, there is currently at least a 8 month wait for new requests. Clients who do not qualify as high-priority, or have the ability to pay for meal deliveries are asked to look into alternative options.
Unfortunately, private-pay is unavailable at this time.
A special thanks to our meal providers!
