WesleyLife Meals on Wheels program was recently awarded a $10,000 Community Betterment Grant from Prairie Meadows in support of its Temporary Meals Program.
The Temporary Meals Program allows any WesleyLife new or current client-who is 60 years and older-to receive 10 free, hot and nutritious meals during their first 10 days at home after a hospital or skilled-facility stay. In addition to the home-delivered meals, two fresh fruit and vegetable baskets are delivered to each person. It is estimated more than 200 Des Moines-metro older adults will receive these hot, delicious and nutritious meals on a yearly basis.
"WesleyLife is extremely grateful for the generosity of this grant from Prairie Meadows," says Melissa Elder, WesleyLife Senior Nutrition Program Director. "This grant will directly help Des Moines-area older adults by providing nutritious meals during a critical time in their recovery. These meals allow our Meals on Wheels recipients to regain their strength, health and well-being while remaining independent in their own home," she adds.
As the trend of shorter hospital stays continues, research shows it takes closer to two weeks to help an older adult who is returning home from the hospital to regain his or her strength and to return to regular activities of daily living-including preparing meals. Receiving meals through Temporary Meals on Wheels program can give the fuel, vitamins and nutrients a body requires to recover more quickly, helping to decrease the occurrence of re-admission to the hospital.
For more information or to request Meals on Wheels service, please call (515) 699-3243.
