PROVIDING MEANINGFUL SOCIAL CONNECTIONS TO COMBAT ISOLATION AND LONELINESS

One in three seniors lives alone and one in four feels lonely. Our social networks tend to shrink as we age due to retirement, loss, mobility challenges and declining health. Gaps in social support needs intensify as older adults become more reliant on others to meet their increasing support needs, yet they have fewer people to rely on.

It’s clear that social isolation and loneliness are growing public health concerns, underscored by a recent advisory from the Surgeon General. The negative consequences of social isolation include anxiety, depression, cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, a lower quality of life and increased use of healthcare services. Homebound older adults are particularly vulnerable to social isolation and loneliness.

Efforts to address loneliness and social isolation are central to the program and research goals of Meals on Wheels America. 93% of local Meals on Wheels programs provide clients with a wide variety of regular companionship opportunities to help promote social connection, such as telephone reassurance, friendly visitor and pet programming.

The research confirms what Meals on Wheels programs have known anecdotally for decades: social connection programs are effective and truly make a difference in the lives of meal recipients. The Meals on Wheels network has been at the forefront of addressing the unique needs of homebound older adults, providing social connection programs that cater to their specific circumstances. It is imperative in addressing the epidemic of loneliness to drive additional funding that expands and sustains these transformative programs, so they can reach even more homebound older adults, ensuring they receive the care, companionship and support they deserve.

EVALUATING SOCIAL CONNECTION PROGRAMS:
FRIENDLY CALLING AND VISITING QUANTITATIVE PILOT STUDY

RELEASED NOVEMBER 2024

Local Meals on Wheels programs are key players in addressing social disconnectedness, and they have developed ways to build quality connections with homebound seniors beyond the social interactions that occur during regular meal deliveries and congregate meal gatherings. Two of the social engagement programs most commonly implemented by Meals on Wheels programs are friendly calling and visiting. This pilot begins to quantitatively measure the impact of social connection programming for older adults and understand operational considerations for reach and scale.

With support from Caesars Foundation, Meals on Wheels America launched a pilot program aimed at reducing operational barriers to providing social engagement programs, improving the depth and quality of social interactions, and demonstrating the impact of these programs through a robust program evaluation.

This pilot validates existing findings that Meals on Wheels programs provide impactful social connection programming and uncovers meaningful lessons for scaling these valuable, time-intensive offerings. Despite administrative challenges, Meals on Wheels social connection programs are increasing social connectedness, with a measurable increase in participants being able to find companionship when they want it and feeling content with their friendships and relationships.

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EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS SOCIAL ISOLATION AND LONELINESS THROUGH MEALS ON WHEELS

RELEASED JUNE 2023

Meals on Wheels America partnered with researchers from the School of Public Health at Brown University to dive deeper into the issues of loneliness and social isolation by conducting a qualitative research project that evaluated the efficacy of social connection programming offered by the Meals on Wheels network.

Through 116 interviews with staff, volunteers and clients from six local Meals on Wheels programs, the research team gained valuable insights into the role that social isolation plays in seniors’ lives. They set out to understand the feasibility, effectiveness and sustainability of their current efforts, and assess the direct impact of social connection programming on Meals on Wheels clients.

The research confirms what Meals on Wheels programs have known anecdotally for decades: social connection programs are effective and truly make a difference in the lives of meal recipients. The Meals on Wheels network has been at the forefront of addressing the unique needs of homebound older adults, providing social connection programs that cater to their specific circumstances.

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MEALS ON WHEELS PET PROGRAMMING AND
CLIENT NEEDS ASSESSMENT

RELEASED JUNE 2021

Research shows that seniors with pets are less likely to exhibit depression, report feelings of loneliness and experience illness. In fact, for many pet-owning older adults, their pet is their closest companion and only source of comfort.

To further explore isolation, loneliness and the role pets play in providing comfort and companionship to Meals on Wheels clients, Meals on Wheels America embarked on a research project funded by PetSmart Charities from July 2020 through January 2021 – during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through this research project, Meals on Wheels America aimed to better understand the specific needs, challenges and opportunities available to clients and the Meals on Wheels network in addressing gaps in pet care.

This project presented a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between social services and animal welfare. The purpose of this research included the following:

Analyze Meals on Wheels client perceptions of pet companionship;
Analyze the extent to which pet support programs empower socialization and reduce social isolation; and
Offer a profile of Meals on Wheels pet-owning clients.

The subsequent report – Meals on Wheels Pet Programming and Client Needs Assessment – examines results from a telephone survey conducted of Meals on Wheels clients with pets, providing new insight into the pet program needs among Meals on Wheels programs that are members of Meals on Wheels America. Note that only clients with pets were included in this study, so a comparative population of clients without pets is not available in this dataset.

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Meals on Wheels America and PetSmart Charities also released this research through a national campaign. Any funds raised through this campaign will support our national programs providing so much more than just a meal, such as the Meals on Wheels Loves Pets grant program.

This report is intended to be disseminated freely. In reproducing any excerpts of this report, please provide a credit. Sample credit: “Meals on Wheels Pet Programming and Client Needs Assessment was produced by Meals on Wheels America and prepared by Adisa, with funding from PetSmart Charities.”