Meal Delivery
You May Be Eligible to Receive Meals on Wheels if:
- You are generally homebound, able to leave the home only for medical appointments and occasional outings.
- You are unable to obtain or prepare complete, nutritious meals due to health or disability.
- You are without a spouse or caregiver who is willing or able to provide meals.
- You need meals for at least three weeks. (At the discretion of the Director, meals may be delivered for a shorter period of time.)
- You are able to feed yourself.
- You are unable to participate in congregate meals, such as those offered at local senior centers.
- Your dietary needs can be appropriately met by the Meals on Wheels program without jeopardizing your health.
- You are the spouse or unpaid caregiver of a Meals on Wheels client.
Potential Clients Must:
- Obtain a doctor’s note indicating the medical condition that makes you homebound.
- Contact Meals on Wheels prior to a scheduled hospitalization after which meals will be needed.
- Agree to receive an initial assessment prior to receiving meals
- Agree to twice-yearly reassessments to determine your continued need.
- Be home when meals are delivered
- Follow proper cancellation guidelines, giving 48 hours notice if you will not be there to receive meals. Service may be cancelled after repeated failures to report an absence.
- Let your YMOW care associate know where to place your food. We cannot leave meals outside, even if you have provided a cooler.
- Be dressed or covered up when your meals arrive.
- Refrain from viewing adult content on your TV or computer while your care associate is visiting.
- Keep pets in another room or away from the door. Some volunteers are allergic to animals or may not feel comfortable around pets.
- Keep your sidewalk and entry clear and shoveled. If you are unable to do this, please let YMOW know so we can connect you to someone who can help.
What Do the Meals Cost?
- The suggested contribution is $3 per meal. This helps us to cover the cost of the meal that is not met through other means of funding.
- This donation is voluntary and no one is turned away because of inability to pay.
- A statement will be sent out each month noting the number of meals received and the suggested donation.
- Donations can be placed in the envelope provided, by mail or by handing it to the person who delivers your meals.
- No credit cards are accepted. Checks are preferred.
What the Client Can Expect
- Your first meals will arrive as soon as all necessary information is received.
- An assessment by YMOW staff will be scheduled within the first week.
- Meals will arrive Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
- We try to deliver meals around the same time each day. Clients should call YMOW if a meal is more than 30 minutes late.
- On Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day, meals are delivered between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
- We provide frozen meals for Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day and the day after Thanksgiving. We deliver these meals within a week before each holiday.
About the Food
- Our meals are prepared by Michigan Medicine's Patient Food and Nutrition Services. YMOW staff picks up the freshly prepared meals each day for delivery to clients throughout Ypsilanti.
- Meals are served on a four-week menu cycle.
- Hot mid-day meals as well as chilled evening meals are available.
- A vegetarian option is available and changes each week.
- All meals are low in salt and fat, and appropriate for diabetics.
- Each main meal includes an entrée and two vegetables.
- Each brown bag meal includes a fruit or vegetable, milk and bread.
- At least six shelf-stable meals are delivered each year for use in an emergency. These meals are to be eaten in situations such as a power outage, severe weather, poor road conditions or other situations in which we are not able to deliver.
- Meals should be eaten when delivered or placed immediately in the refrigerator. The second meal and uneaten portions of the first meal need to be refrigerated.
- Reheat refrigerated meals in the microwave for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Never reheat food in plastic packaging. Use a different container.
Liquid Nutrition
- Ensure Plus can be purchased at a wholesale cost of $20 per case, with a doctor’s prescription. Chocolate and vanilla flavors are available.
- Vanilla Glucerna can be purchased at $38 per case, with a doctor’s prescription.
- Cases are delivered or they can be picked up as needed.
- Payment must be made prior to delivery, unless previous arrangements have been made.
Cancellation of Service
YMOW reserves the right to discontinue service to clients for a number of reasons, including:
- You repeatedly fail to be home to accept meal deliveries.
- You frequently call to cancel meals after we have ordered them
- You are no longer homebound and are physically able to shop and prepare meals, or no do not meet other eligibility requirements.
- Your service hold for more than 90 days, with no anticipated date for resuming services and we need your spot to serve someone else who needs meals.
- The safety of our volunteers and/or staff is threatened. This includes pets that are not leashed or contained in another room when your meal is delivered.
- You are not available for 6-month reassessments.
We understand that emergencies arise. To cancel a meal in case of an emergency situation, please call the YMOW office at (734) 487-9669 as soon as possible. If our office is closed, please leave a message on our voicemail.
YMOW will notify customers up to 30 days before service is ended.
The Appeals Process
Clients and caregivers can appeal a termination of meal service by requesting a review. This request must be made in writing and sent to the YMOW office at info@ymow.org, or 1110 W. Cross St., Ypsilanti, MI 48197.
At least two YMOW Advisory Board members will review all written appeals.
Further complaints, including claims of discrimination, may be filed with the Area Agency on Aging 1-B, The United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Civil Rights, or the Michigan Department of Civil Rights.
