Food on Wheels Really Delivers Results, Food
Federal funding for Meals on Wheels is in jeopardy because, according to budget director Mick Mulvaney, it is ” failing .” But this is just an alternate fact – we have the results right here.
In 2013, researchers at Urbana-Champaign analyzed studies of home delivery programs for seniors. They found that not only do older people eat better when they receive food and sign up from volunteers, but these programs actually save government money . They “align with federal cost containment policies to reallocate long-term care from nursing homes to home and community services, helping older people maintain independence and stay in their homes and communities as their health and functioning deteriorate.”
However, the president does not draw up the budget himself. Congress will still have to vote for (or against) the changes it recommends. This means that Meals on Wheels will not disappear yet, if at all. In the meantime, if you are in favor of older people living on their own and not starving, consider volunteering during your lunch breaks to have lunch and say hello to people in your area.