LONGMONT MEALS ON WHEELS INC

The goals of Longmont Meals on Wheels are: to maintain or improve the physical health of at-risk older adults, disabled persons and people returning from the hospital by preparing and serving nutritious meals; and to enhance the emotional wellbeing of those persons by providing a daily visit in their homes or encouraging them to attend a congregate Longmont Meals on Wheels site where they can socialize and make friends.

Longmont Meals on Wheels works to provide the basic need of affordable, nutritious food for older people, people with disabilities and people returning from a hospital visit. Hot meals are offered Monday through Friday; frozen meals, for the weekends and evenings, all on a sliding scale. At intake clients are assessed on their diet needs and their income level. Longmont Meals on Wheels plans and prepares well-balanced meals that meet all nutritional guidelines and fulfill many special diets. The agency designs delivery routes to maximize efficiency and recruits and trains sufficient volunteers to deliver meals, check on clients and know what signs to look for that indicate waning health. LMOW does not use waiting lists for services or turn anyone away who cannot afford a hot, nutritious meal. The agency also serves a community lunchtime meal at the Longmont Senior Center and at A Day Place and offers meals to support many senior-center program.

Longmont Meals on Wheels is an expert in senior nutrition and daily wellness checks. The agency has existed since 1969 and continues to serve its community year after year.

There is no other organization serving ready-made, nutritious meals in the homes of seniors and people with disabilities in Longmont or serving lunch at the Longmont Senior Center. Two other organizations locally also work to provide food to homebound seniors: both only provide foodstuffs, both provide any type of food, not necessarily nutritious or accommodating of special diets; only one provides food at low or no cost.

On a daily basis Longmont Meals on Wheels serves 400-450 meals per day to 30 different routes and serves an additional 15-30 meals at the Longmont Senior Center.

Since 1969 Longmont Meals on Wheels has served more than 3 million meals in Longmont, Niwot, Hygiene and Lyons for older folks, people with disabilities and people returning from a hospital stay. Last year Longmont Meals on Wheels served 106,930 meals to 1,234 unduplicated clients or fewer meals than the previous year. This small drop was in large part due to deaths from COVID and higher rates of death due to other illnesses during COVID. People also delayed moving into assisted living facilities until they were less nervous about COVID, which means there have been higher than usual rates of that move in the last two years because there were almost none in 2020. Many families waited as long as they could for their loved one to stay in their own home for as long as possible, but it was really past time. Once the worst of the pandemic was over, families felt more comfortable with the transition. Deaths were unusually high among LMOW clients in 2022 as well. Certainly some from COVID, but according to national trends, much was due to delayed medical care and the general stress of aging during a pandemic.

Also when LMOW conducted its yearly survey, 94% of LMOW clients stated that their health improved or maintained using LMOW services, and 75% said that they were eating more fruits and vegetables. 89% felt that LMOW’s services contributed to their ability to remain independent, while 63% said that at least one factor of daily living, such as stress level, energy, social interactions, finances, mental abilities, dressing for the day or their ability to keep appointments, had improved. 99% of LMOW clients enjoyed the visits from LMOW volunteers, feeling more connected to society. LMOW is more than a meal, and 76% of clients agreed, feeling that a wellness check was important.

Longmont Meals on Wheels will continue to focus on nutrition and wellness checks for seniors and people with disabilities in the Longmont area, particularly for this homebound, vulnerable population.