Services provide nutrition as well as important social contacts and safety checks for older adults.
The Seattle Human Services Department’s (HSD) Aging and Disability Services (ADS) division is pleased to announce the results of the 2023 Home Delivered Meals Request for Qualifications (RFQ), which closed April 12, 2023. This RFQ releases over $2 million in federal Older Americans Act funds (including the Nutrition Services Incentive Program), Washington State funds, and HSD General Fund dollars to support home-delivered meals for older adults who are unable to leave their homes unassisted and/or prepare meals for themselves, and who do not have a social support system to help them.
In response to this RFQ, HSD received two proposals from currently funded providers, Sound Generations and Lifelong Health for All (referred to as Lifelong). Both will receive funds to continue Home Delivered Meals.
Both providers deliver healthy, nutritious meals to eligible King County residents, with additional options available depending on the provider. Sound Generations options may include vegetarian, vegan, low sodium, and kosher upon request. Lifelong may offer medically tailored options that include easy digestion, dialysis care, and gluten-free/dairy-free. Culturally nuanced meal options are developed in collaboration with the Asian, East African, and Hispanic/Latinx communities.
Home Delivered Meals is a vital service for our elders. Not only does the program provide nutrition, but meal drivers may also be the only source of social contact for meal recipients.
Mary Mitchell, Aging and Disability Services Division Director
“Sound Generations is delighted to continue serving older adults in King County with our Meals on Wheels Program, which we have been operating since 1974,” said Joanne Donohue, Chief Operating Officer at Sound Generations. “At the same time, we are dismayed about a waiting list for the program that continues to grow and is now up to 600 people.”
While Lifelong has capacity to alleviate some of Sound Generations’ waitlist, more resources are needed to keep up with the demand. “We truly appreciate our partners working together to address community needs but hope more funding will be available, so that our elders do not have to wait for their meals,” said Mitchell. Drivers also provide a friendly visit and safety check so elders will be connected to emergency response or community resources, as needed.
To learn more about the impacts of this funding in the current contracts, check out this 2022 article from AgeWise King County with some home-delivered meals stories worth sharing and information on volunteer opportunities!
The 2024 Home Delivered Meals contract will be managed by Aging and Disability Services, a division of the Seattle Human Services Department that is designated by the State of Washington as the Area Agency on Aging for Seattle and King County. Older people, adults with disabilities, caregivers, and family members can access information and local services by contacting Community Living Connections at www.CommunityLivingConnections.org.