Viewing FAQs for Nutrition Services for Older Adults
Persons 60 years of age and older who are homebound and are in need of substantial support in at least two areas of daily functioning (based on an assessment) are eligible to receive Meals on Wheels. You are eligible for Meals on Wheels, regardless of your age, if you are the spouse or domestic partner of an eligible meal recipient who is receiving Meals on Wheels. You may be eligible if you live in the home of someone currently receiving meals and have a disability as defined by the Center for Medicare/ Medicaid Service that can be verified through SSDI or MediCare documentation.
Call (415) 457-INFO
If you live in West Marin, please call West Marin Senior Services at (415) 663-8148. When the program has space for new meal recipients, we can complete the intake process over the phone.
- The application process starts with an initial assessment done over the phone. You will be asked to provide your name, address, contact information, and specific demographic information such as your age, income, and marital status.
- There is no income qualification for this program, but you must be at least 60 years old and have functional limitations. This will be determined by asking you some questions to determine your ability to perform activities of daily living and nutrition risk. At the end of the interview, the assessor will determine if you qualify.
- At that point, your enrollment is conditional until we verify the information you provided by doing a home visit within 2 weeks after you enroll in the program.
The information we gather is for statistical purposes only and is used to secure ongoing funding for the program. None of your personal data is reported or shared with other agencies or individuals. We take the protection of your privacy seriously.
Yes. County representatives are required to do two assessments on the telephone and two in-home visits per year to verify continued eligibility. In-person assessments have been suspended until permitted by state and local policies and guidance. All assessments are currently done on the telephone.
Clients receive from 3 - 7 meals per week, depending on the need determined at time of client intake. Meals are delivered on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and the number of delivery days is dependent on the number of weekly meals determined. Delivery is between 9am - 4pm, based on your location in Marin County. Needs are assessed on a quarterly basis.
Our program offers either a Regular menu or a Vegetarian menu option; clients must choose between the Regular or Vegetarian option each month. Each well-balanced meal includes a protein a vegetable, a starch, milk, and fruit. The meals range from home-style casseroles to stews, along with tasty sauces on items like poultry, beef, and pork dishes on the Regular menu. The Vegetarian menu also offers delicious items, and both menus are served with complementary side dishes. New menus are provided to clients each month.
Meals are prepared by the Sonoma Council on Aging.
Fresh meals are prepared daily by Sonoma County Council on Aging.
Our meals are heart-healthy and well-balanced with measured portions, and rarely include concentrated sweets or juices. They are not designed to accommodate renal diets, or those requiring very low sodium. Each meal is designed to not exceed 750 milligrams of sodium.
Yes. The Vegetarian menu contains dairy and eggs, and is not vegan.
We are unable to accommodate individual dietary preferences or restrictions. Clients must choose between the vegetarian or regular menu each month.
We ask for a voluntary contribution of $3.50 per meal. We recognize that some clients are not able to afford the donation and will not be turned away for lack of funds. The requested donation is used to help cover the cost of the program, as funding for Meals on Wheels does not cover the full cost of the program.
No. Each month you will receive a request for voluntary contribution, itemizing the number of meals we delivered to you the previous month. Included will be a return envelope for your donation with the statement and you can either return the envelope to your delivery driver or mail it back to us.
We will continue to deliver meals to you. Our program is not based on ability to donate for the meals.
Depending on where you live, delivery windows are between 9:00 am and 12:00pm, or between 1:00pm and 4:00pm. Meals are delivered by Whistlestop drivers, and subject to their transport schedules. If you live in West Marin, meals will be delivered by West Marin Senior Services
No. Because so many meals are delivered each day we need to be careful of our food costs. We require that we have an established delivery pattern for each client. We order meals for our clients once per week on Tuesdays for the following week. With as much notice as possible, we can hold delivery of your meals for a maximum of 4 weeks to accommodate special situations.
No. We cannot risk our clients’ health by leaving fresh food un-refrigerated for any period of time.
While we realize emergencies occur, we require a minimum of a week to HOLD a meal delivery. As much notice as possible allows us to keep wasted meals to a minimum and cuts down on unwanted or unsuccessful deliveries. Scheduling appointments on the days you are not expecting meal deliveries helps in this area and keeps cancelations to a minimum.
In the event that you miss your scheduled delivery, you will find a door tag from the driver stating that they missed you. Unfortunately, the drivers are unable to return for a second attempt at delivery.
Please note: Frequent missed deliveries can become a problem and are reason for cancellation from the program.