Home Delivered Meals

Hot meals, cold meals and frozen meals are prepared and delivered to the homes of older adults and people with disabilities who are unable to shop and/or prepare meals for themselves or travel to a site where a community meal is being served. There are several agencies and businesses across the state who provide home-delivered meals and each has its own process when it comes to signing up and ordering meals.

Meals may be delivered daily or periodically, depending on the program and the participant’s needs. All meal programs share a common goal – to provide a nutritious, prepared meal to older adults and people with disabilities in their home. A secondary benefit of this service is the social contact between the meal delivery person, often a community volunteer, and the meal recipient.

Many providers can address special diet by offering pureed, gluten-free, diabetic, low-sodium, vegetarian, or meals for people undergoing cancer treatment.

There are different eligibility criteria for each home delivered meal program. Private organizations that offer the service for a fee may not have any criteria.

Home-delivered meals through the Elderly Nutrition Program are available to residents aged 60 or older who are unable to travel to a community meal site.

Private organizations establish their own fee for home-delivered meals. They are typically around $10-$15 for lunch and dinner, delivered at the same time.

Home-delivered meals may be included in the care plan for clients of programs like the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders and provided at no additional or low cost. Meals provided through the Elderly Nutrition Program are funded by the federal government through the Older Americans Act and the State of Connecticut. While there is no direct fee, recipients are encouraged to make a voluntary donation.

Private Pay:
Private pay refers to using personal funds to cover all or a portion of an expense. There are different ways to acquire private pay resources.

Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Waiver:
This waiver provides services and supports for individuals with an acquired brain injury who are receiving or otherwise would receive care in an institution.

CT Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE):
This program enables older adults to remain in their homes with services and supports instead of residing in a nursing facility or other institutional setting to receive care.

Elderly Nutrition Program:
The Elderly Nutrition Program provides eligible older adults and people with disabilities nutritional meals at congregate meal sites or delivered to their home.