VNA Meals on Wheels

One in six Dallas County seniors struggles with hunger.

What We Do

VNA Meals on Wheels provides nutritious, hot, home-delivered meals five days a week to those who due to illness, advanced age or disability are unable to obtain or prepare their own meals. VNA serves the hidden hungry—homebound, aging and unable to access resources like food pantries and grocery stores.

The purpose of VNA Meals on Wheels is to nourish the whole person.

Meals on Wheels: What We Do
Meals on Wheels: Our Goals

Our Goals

The program fulfills a basic food need in the community and enables seniors to age with dignity in their homes. Our goals are to improve nutrition and to provide social contact, thereby decreasing medical costs associated with malnutrition, dehydration and isolation.

Current Statistics

1.1 Million Meals

Last year, more than 1.1 million home-delivered meals were prepared in VNA’s kitchen for homebound seniors in Dallas County and another 1,200 were served daily at various senior centers.

Food Insecurity

According to the Aging Services Network, food insecure seniors are 50% more likely to have diabetes, three times more likely to suffer from depression, 60% more likely to have a heart attack, and two times as likely to report asthma.

$10.4M Saved

Based on a PwC impact study, VNA Meals on Wheels saves an estimated $10.4 million annually in health costs collectively across 4,700 clients analyzed. In the same study, our clients reported a 25% reduction in feelings of isolation and loneliness as compared with those not receiving meals.

VNA Meals on Wheels facilitates client referral needs by partnering with agencies including but not limited to: Adult Protective Services, the Dallas Area Agency on Aging, The Senior Source, and Texas Health and Human Services.

Please note VNA Meals on Wheels provides service for Dallas County residents only.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Be over the age of 60 or disabled
  • Be unable to drive or leave home without assistance
  • Have limited financial resources
  • Live in Dallas County

If you have a patient who can benefit from VNA Meals on Wheels, please contact us for assistance.

For Questions or a Consultation

Refer a Patient

A list of surrounding Meals on Wheels locations outside of Dallas County are provided below. Additional Meals on Wheels locations may also be found by visiting www.MOWAA.org.

In Texas, Call
7-844-4TX-MEAL
Collin County
972-562-6996
Denton County (Lewisville, The Colony)
940-382-2224
Ellis County (Ennis, Ferris)
972-351-9943
Forney County
972-564-7348
Johnson County
817-558-2840
Kaufman County
972-563-7960
Kaufman County (Forney, Crandall)
972-564-7348
Metro Port Area (Grapevine, Roanoke, Keller)
817-491-1141
Navarro County
903-641-0166
Rockwall County
972-771-9514
Smith County (Tyler)
903-593-7385
Tarrant County
817-336-0912
Terrell County
972-563-7960
Tyler County
903-593-738
Van Zandt County (Canton)
903-593-7385
Wylie County
972-824-0001
Jewish Family Services-Kosher Meals
(Dallas/Denton)
972-437-9950

The Problem

44%-76%

44%-76% of hospital readmissions are preventable

50% higher

30-day hospital readmissions are 50% higher for patients diagnosed with malnutrition

80%

80% of health outcomes occur outside of a clinical environment

Provide nutritious meals, vital social contact, and a daily safety check to high-risk patients

Immediately report patient concerns back to health care system

71%

71% reduction in ER visits for participating patients

96%

96% decline in unintended hospital readmissions

Thank you to our healthcare partners for your collaboration
to improve nutrition and health for our homebound seniors.

 

Meals on Wheels Provider Partners

For more information on partnerships, contact Jennifer Atwood at 214-689-2265 or atwoodj@vnatexas.org.

VNA Meals on Wheels
Community Care Check

The focus of VNA Meals on Wheels Community Care Check is to address the unmet clinical needs of our Meals on Wheels population to help them age safely at home.

Meals on Wheels community check

What We Do

Our RN Navigators contact high-risk Meals on Wheels clients and screen them for essential health care needs including social work interventions, home health, hospice or palliative care. Any identified needs are discussed with the client and their physician to best coordinate care.

Any active Meals on Wheels client is eligible for this service. Clients can self-refer by calling the VNA Nurse Line at 214-689-0002. Additionally, VNA staff and volunteers can report client needs and refer a nurse through the VNA Meals on Wheels Mobile App or by calling the VNA Meals on Wheels office at 214-689-2639.