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MEALS ON WHEELS AND HEALTHCARE

MEALS ON WHEELS AND HEALTHCARE

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    BILLIONS OF VISITS. MILLIONS IN SAVINGS.

    IMPROVING HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR VULNERABLE SENIORS AND
    THE HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE THEM

    A nutritious meal is only the start of the value Meals on Wheels can deliver to keep your most vulnerable members healthy.

    For nearly 50 years, Meals on Wheels has touched the lives of millions of seniors, providing them with the nutrition they need and human contact they desire. But the benefits of this care and compassion go far beyond, driving notable improvements in their health and your bottom line.

    Staff and volunteers from the nationwide Meals on Wheels network are the “eyes and ears” in the homes of your most at-risk members. Put us to work to observe firsthand any changes in their physical or mental conditions. Learn more about our services here.

    WE IDENTIFY RISKS BEFORE THEY BECOME PROBLEMS;
    ADDRESS PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY BECOME HEALTH ISSUES;
    AND SOLVE HEALTH ISSUES BEFORE THEY BECOME CATASTROPHIC AND COSTLY.

    SHARE IN THE TRUST WE'VE EARNED

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    When Meals on Wheels knocks on the door, vulnerable seniors open it with a smile. Being invited into the homes of millions of the nation’s most high-risk seniors and disabled individuals is an honor and privilege. It’s also the first and one of the most effective lines of defense in avoiding additional healthcare costs.

    Every visit comes with a nutritious meal created to address the specific health conditions of the senior, a safety check around the house and an assessment of any changes that might impact future medical needs. This can mean the difference between independent living at home and an unwelcome transfer to a costly long-term care facility.

    CARING IS COST-EFFECTIVE

    While Meals on Wheels feeds both the body and soul, it also creates a profound effect on lowering healthcare costs. One in four of today’s seniors lives alone, increasing their chances of high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. Meals on Wheels can be a valuable asset for healthcare providers and insurers by helping to avoid unnecessary hospitalizations, reducing hospital readmissions and post-discharge needs through daily nutrition, socialization and safety checks.

    In fact, 81% of the people we serve say Meals on Wheels improves their health. Now multiply that over the hundreds of thousands of home visits we make every week, and the number of healthier and happier seniors adds up in your favor.

    Healthcare providers are continually looking to deliver efficient and cost-saving services, and Meals on Wheels can bring our special brand of service to your senior members.

    IT'S WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY.

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    OUR SERVICES AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

    We’re able to tap into our nationwide network of local, community-based programs to serve virtually any geography in the country. Choose between the services below, or let us customize a plan to meet your exact needs.


    • Long-term preventative services, including nutrition, socialization, safety checks and connections to community services. 

    • Short-term post-discharge services, including nutrition, socialization and safety checks. Customizable depending on the needs of the provider.

    HEALTHCARE PARTNER NEWS

    MEALS ON WHEELS AMERICA AND AETNA FORM INNOVATIVE COLLABORATION TO IMPROVE SENIOR CARE

    Sep 27, 2017

    Arlington, VA – September 27, 2017 – Meals on Wheels America announced today a new national program with Aetna to collaborate on groundbreaking research and innovative models for patient care coordination. The nonprofit and Fortune 50 health company will work together to facilitate access to critical health and social services for America’s seniors at all stages of medical need, from preventive to post-hospital discharge.

    The objective of the collaboration is to create a best in class model for care coordination, integrating Meals on Wheels’ daily nutritious meals, social support and critical safety checks into a continuum of care required as people age. Meals on Wheels and Aetna will pilot this model in several markets, and identify best practices intended to improve vulnerable seniors’ health outcomes. Results from these pilots will help build a scalable operational model that will address the challenges seniors face in their daily living.

    “More than three-quarters of older adults have at least two chronic conditions. Having a reliable support system in place to observe their health on a regular basis can be just as important as the care they receive at the doctor’s office,” said Mark T. Bertolini, Aetna chairman and CEO. “Our work with Meals on Wheels America will help us make better connections with seniors in their homes and communities, and enable us to establish truly meaningful relationships that can improve the lives of this vulnerable population.”

    With the senior population projected to double by the year 2050, this joint program is intended to create a replicable model that will encourage healthcare entities across the country to utilize home- and community-based service providers to address the significant challenges present in the nation’s health care system.

    “This collaboration is an important step to fully integrate Meals on Wheels into the health care system,” said Ellie Hollander, president and CEO of Meals on Wheels America. “We are thankful to Aetna for its generous support and leadership in working with health- and community-based service providers, and together, I am confident that we can support seniors in receiving the holistic care they need and deserve.”

    About Meals on Wheels America

    Meals on Wheels America is the oldest and largest national organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior isolation and hunger. This network exists in virtually every community in America and, along with more than two million staff and volunteers, delivers the nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks that enable America’s seniors to live nourished lives with independence and dignity. By providing funding, leadership, education, research and advocacy support, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time. For more information, or to find a Meals on Wheels provider near you, visit www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org.

    About Aetna

    Aetna is one of the nation’s leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving an estimated 44.7 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities, Medicaid health care management services, workers’ compensation administrative services and health information technology products and services. Aetna’s customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, see www.aetna.com and learn about how Aetna is helping to build a healthier world. @AetnaNews

    Media Contacts:
    Jenny Bertolette Young
    Meals on Wheels America
    571-339-1603
    jenny@mealsonwheelsamerica.org

    Ethan Slavin
    Aetna
    (860) 273-6095
    SlavinE@aetna.com

    Meals on Wheels America

    AMERICA'S SENIORS NEED YOU

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    CONNECT WITH US


    To learn more about how Meals on Wheels Health and our nationwide network can provide cost-effective healthcare solutions, contact Ipyana Spencer, Chief Health Officer, Meals on Wheels Health.

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