Area 9's Notice of Privacy Practices

Meals Program

  Mission

    Area 9's mission is to "assist people in leading independent, meaningful and dignified lives in their own homes and communities for as long as possible" and to avoid premature or inappropriate nursing facility placement.

    To help achieve this mission, the Meals Program provide nutritious meals at several neighborhood meal  sites and to individuals who are homebound.

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  Nutritious

    Meals are approved by a registered dietician and contain 1/3 of the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) requirements. 

    Each day's meal is planned to contain a minimum of 684 calories with 20 to 35 percent of total calories from fat and a minimum of 400 MG of calcium.  For those participants following a physician prescribed diet, please confer with your physician prior to starting the meals to ensure offered meals meet dietary restrictions.

    Area 9 Meals Program does offer an alternative dessert option to the standard dessert listed on the menu.  Typically, the alternative dessert is lower in calories, fat, and simple carbohydrates.  Examples include:  fresh fruit, sugar-free gelatin and pudding, small servings of cake without icing, vanilla wafers, or similar items. 

    Meals are available Monday through Friday except for the following holidays:  New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and the following Friday, and Christmas Day.   Sack and frozen meals are available for evening and weekend meals.

     Breakfast is also available now.  Call your meal site for more information.  Breakfast menus are as follows:

*Sack lunches or frozen meals are available for holiday closings.

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Site Meals

    Persons who can travel locally may enjoy lunch at several meal sites.  Most are based in senior centers and senior housing complexes, which may offer other activities including crafts, exercise classes, senior trips, and much more.  To make a reservation for lunch at one of the sites, call the site by 11am the day before you plan to come.

    Neighborhood Meal Sites

    Entree options

    In Area 9, those who eat at the meal sites may choose from two different entree options.  This is available to provide even more variety for nutrition.

    A typical meal consists of oven fried chicken, scalloped potatoes, cole slaw, peaches, bread with butter, and milk.

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  Meals on Wheels Guidelines

    Persons who are homebound may benefit from Meals on Wheels.  A noontime meal is delivered five days a week with frozen and sack meals available for evenings or weekends.  Clients have daily contact with their meal deliverer, who is instructed to note any changes in the person's health or living environment as well as what to do in case of an emergency.

ASSESSMENT - The state of Indiana requires completed assessments of all clients served to ensure eligibility.  An Area 9 staff member will call on you for an appointment.  Questions will be asked about income, martial status, medications, health conditions, daily activities, etc.

REDETERMINATION - Clients are visited annually by Area 9 staff to update information.

DELIVERY - Meals are delivered approximately the same time each day.  Delays may occur due to weather, client emergencies, etc.

DONATION - A donation of $1.75 per meal is encouraged to help provide more meals.  Donations can be made daily, weekly, or monthly to the driver or through a monthly statement sent by Area 9 as requested.  Food stamps are accepted.  Full cost is $4.00.

NOTIFICATION OF NOT BEING HOME - Call your meal site to make arrangements if you are not going to be home.  Options are cancellation, picking up your meal at the site, or the meal being placed in the refrigerator.  If prior arrangements are not made, the meal has to be discarded.

WEATHER - In adverse weather conditions, meal delivery may not be possible.  The local radio station will announce "Area 9 Meals on Wheels closed".  Shelf-stable meals are available to use, if delivery is cancelled.

PETS - Pets can be precious, but sometimes over protective and may try to bite the driver.  Participants are asked to help drivers by keeping pets contained during delivery times.  Meals may be discontinued if your pet continues to cause a problem with delivery.

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Canceling Delivery

   Meals delivered to the home should be eaten promptly or refrigerated.  Drivers are not permitted to leave a meal or enter a home if the client is not present. 

   To cancel the next day's meal, call your meal site by 11am.  When a client who is expecting a meal does not answer the door, the driver will make every effort to ensure the person is safe. 

   Emergency contact information is imperative at the time of referral.  If the emergency contact person cannot be reached, the police may be called to enter the home.  These precautions are taken as an added benefit to the client.  Clients have been found ill or injured who could not get help.

It is a must to cancel your meal if you do not plan to be home!

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Silver Select

    Utilizing the services of local restaurants, Silver Select allows seniors to enjoy many of the same foods they always have, while incorporating them as part of a healthy eating plan.

    For a donation of $3.00, persons age 60+ can purchase certificates redeemable for a meal at local participating restaurants.  Certificates may be purchased from any Area 9 meal site.  Certain restaurant hours and other restrictions may apply.