VNS Health MLTC: Home Delivered Meals

Home-delivered or congregate meals are provided according to the Person-Centered Service Plan. Congregate meals are those provided in group settings, such as senior centers, allowing older adults the opportunity to socialize.

Typically, one to two meals per day are provided for individuals who are unable to prepare meals and who do not have personal care services to assist with meal preparation. Meals come already prepared and both hot and cold selections are available.

Hot meals often come hot upon delivery, though there may also be ready-made heat-and-eat options (prepared but require microwave or oven heating).

Meal delivery services take care to ensure that the meals delivered are properly set up for the recipient to dine straightaway, or properly stored for eating later. Some services even provide a folding tray (once commonly called "TV trays") upon initial delivery, so that meals can be set up wherever the recipient is seated. This eliminates the difficulty some people experience with moving to the kitchen or dining room table to eat.