New Study Shows Meal Delivery Services Reduce Senior Hospitalizations

Meals on Wheels America and the WellSky Foundation have released a new study exploring how healthcare organizations and community-based Meals on Wheels programs can improve health outcomes for seniors and better understand food insecurity and social isolation. In a November 7 press release, the organizations announced that the study showed a correlation between meal delivery services and reduced hospital readmissions among older adults post-discharge from an acute setting.

The study found an 85 percent decrease in hospitalizations 30 days after meal delivery service, with the reduction increasing to 93 percent at the 90-day mark. Most of the study participants, 98 percent, reported that Meals on Wheels helped in their recovery after hospital discharge. Meanwhile, 61 percent noted that Meals on Wheels helped reduce feelings of social isolation.

“These findings provide clear, measurable evidence of how Meals on Wheels services can drastically improve older adult health outcomes,” said Ipyana Spencer, chief health officer at Meals on Wheels America, in a statement. “Not only were hospitalizations reduced, but the local Meals on Wheels providers also addressed key social determinants of health (SDOH), like food insecurity and social isolation, which can be overlooked in traditional healthcare approaches.”

Participants were seniors discharged from two hospital systems in New York and Florida. Wellness checks were conducted at the time of discharge. The patients’ health outcomes were tracked over 90 days.