HOMEBOUND CLIENT INFORMATION

ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for Meals on Wheels, you must be having difficulty preparing or obtaining meals for yourself because of age related problems, physical or mental disability, illness or lack of a support system.  Persons of all ages, races, religions, sex, ethnicity or handicap are eligible to apply.  Our service area is every community in Lake County, Indiana.

STARTING SERVICES

Call our office and one of our staff will be happy to describe our program, policies and procedures and take an application to get your Meals on Wheels started.  The application process is fast and easy.  We will need the following information:

·        Name, address and phone number

·        Dietary information & doctor’s name and address

·        Impairments and delivery instructions to your home

·        Birth date, height and weight, sex and reason for service

·        Two emergency contacts to call if the client is not home for a meal or needs assistance

·        Billing address

MEAL DELIVERY

We expect you to be home to receive your meal. You need to be ready for your meal and prepared to open your door when the delivery person arrives.  We will not leave your meal unless you are there to receive it.  If you have difficulty hearing the door bell or getting to the door, let the office know so an accommodation can be made.  If you don’t eat your meal when it is delivered, please refrigerate it until you do.  Always call the office if you have a question about the food.

DELIVERY SCHEDULE

We deliver Monday through Friday between the hours of 11:00 am and 2:00 pm.  Sometimes, problems arise on the route making your meals late.  If your meals have not arrived by 2:00 pm, please call the office.

MEAL COST

Lake Area United Way, private donations and grants help keep the meals affordable to our clients.  Private-pay clients are billed at the beginning of each month for the prior month’s meals.  Those clients who are on a limited income may qualify for case management and subsidy funds made possible by the Older Americans Act.

EMERGENCIES

If you do not open the door to receive your meals, we consider this a potential emergency.  We will call your emergency contacts, so it is important to keep the office updated with any new phone numbers.  Delivery persons are authorized to call 911 upon your request or in the event you cannot do it.

SERVICE CANCELLATION

You are free to cancel permanently after taking meals for 5 days.  You may cancel for appointments or other necessary commitments by calling the office by 10:00 am one day in advance.  The office reserves the right to charge a cancellation fee to new clients who cancel before the 5 days are up or charge for meals canceled after 10:00 am the day before. 

HOLIDAYS

There is no regular delivery on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Contact the office if you require emergency food for those holidays.  Catastrophic weather conditions may force the cancellation of Meals on Wheels.  Cancellations will be broadcast on local radio—WJOB 1230 AM.