“It is our goal that no senior goes hungry.”
Tracey Collins, CEO, Cincinnati Area Senior Services
We take our responsibility very seriously. We don’t let winter storms stop us. Seniors still need to eat, even if the roads are difficult to navigate. In fact, the motto attributed to the U.S. Postal Service could belong to Cincinnati Area Senior Services: “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”
Our drivers are trained to act if they spot something wrong. Some folks call us the “9-1-1 of elder services” because we regularly notify families and first responders that Meals on Wheels recipients need urgent assistance, perhaps because of a fall or signs of disorientation. We’ve even saved lives. Our drivers get to know the seniors on their routes, so they often know if something is not right.
Seniors Choose Meals From Our Large Menu
We’re proud that our Meals on Wheels program gives older adults choices of meals, just like a restaurant. “Giving them a choice provides seniors with the dignity and respect they deserve,” said Tracey Collins, our CEO. Giving them a choice also makes the meal more enjoyable and increases the chances they’ll finish their meal.
We have several meal plans:
For weekly delivery, our Savory Selects meal plan offers a choice of about 40 entrees, including beef, poultry, fish and vegetarian. Local favorites, including Cincinnati chili, cabbage rolls, mac and cheese and sauerkraut and sausage, also are offered at times. Each meal includes choices of fruits, juices, snacks and desserts as well as various types of bread and milk. Seven days of meals are delivered frozen once a week.
For daily delivery, seniors get a choice of two entrees, the same that we offer at our congregate meal locations. This plan is offered for seniors who need a more-frequent check on their well-being.
For seniors with special dietary needs, we have therapeutic options, including diabetic, cardio and renal. And we can deliver meals mechanically altered, such as pureed, chopped or ground.
Sometimes, our drivers even heat the meals in a microwave oven for the seniors. If a senior does not have a microwave, CASS will purchase one for them.
With all our meal plans, we drop off a blank menu for seniors to fill out, then we pick it up during our next visit.
How to Order a Home-Delivered Meal
To order free Meals on Wheels service, residents of Hamilton County who are age 60 or older must qualify by income. To learn more, they can call CASS at 513-721-0445.
Seniors who do not qualify from an income standpoint can pay CASS directly. They can call CASS at 513-721-0445 to order Meals on Wheels service.
Meals on Wheels Supports Seniors Across the U.S.
The Meals on Wheels network started in 1954 in Philadelphia. It now operates in nearly every community in the U.S. with about 5,000 independent local providers, serving more than 2 million people annually.
Meals on Wheels’ goal is to care for seniors whose limited mobility and limited family support makes it difficult to shop for food, prepare meals or socialize. In 2019, CASS delivered more than 358,000 meals to seniors.
Nearly 100% of the Meals on Wheels clients served by CASS say the home-delivered meals make it possible for them to live independently. For some, it could be their only meal of the day.
