Meals on Wheel
A 2014 study by Strickhouser et al. indicated that as much as 18% of the American population face food insecurity. The authors describe food insecurity as a systemic state where many individuals’ nutritional needs are not met by the food that they can access or afford. The authors also state that among the people who are at the biggest risk of malnutrition are the rural populations, the poor, children, people of color, and the elderly. In developed countries including the US, malnutrition and hunger are key problems among the elderly. As a way of solving this problem, the government started an initiative where the government itself with the support of well-wishers provide for elderly individuals who have no access to quality food (Wright et al., 2015). This program was called the meals on wheel program as it looked to deliver food ready food to the homes of the affected elders. The program was made to address the needs of the elderly hence it is a geriatric issue. In past few years, the program has attracted varied social opinions and political interest thus making it a sociopolitical issue.
Elderly individuals in many places at a high risk of malnourishment or going hungry occasionally. Favaro-Moreira et al. (2016) assert that the risk of malnutrition among the elderly peaks after the age of 65 and increases with age. The authors also identify other key risk factors to elderly malnutrition; these include institutionalization, general polypharmacy, declining physical health, Parkinsonism, poverty, constipation, dementia, loss of interest in life, poor appetite, and basal oral dysphagia. Lack of food and resultant malnutrition can cause multiple health problems in the affected elders. Studies have shown that malnutrition puts elders at a higher risk of developing chronic health conditions including congestive heart failure, asthma, ischemic heart disease, anemia, and depression. Zhu and An (2015) suggest that prevention of malnutrition among the elders can help relieve the healthcare system as the incidence of negative health repercussions of malnutrition decrease. Moreover, the meals and wheels program has had many other positive impacts on the lives of the elders and the whole society. The program has enhanced the elders’ ability to access high-quality food. As such, the program has not just solved hunger but has also addressed the issue of low-quality nutrition among elders living in solitude (Wright et al., 2015). Moreover, the program assures the enlisted elders of a meal hence relieving them of depression. The program also gives the elders an opportunity to socialize with the volunteers delivering food to them. During the delivery, the elders receive advice and thus it enhances their adherence to nutrition (Wright et al., 2015). Generally, the program enhances the quality of life of the elders. Thus, the meals on wheel program is an important social issue since it enhances socialization among the elderly.
Over the past few years, the meals on wheel program has attracted plenty of political interest. As an issue that affects a large part of the population, politicians often use it as a political bait. Additionally, the proportion of elders is likely to increase with an increase in life expectancy hence increasing the political significance of elder malnutrition and meals on wheel. Additionally, since the program receives a significant proportion of the national budget in the countries where it exists, it is bound to attract political opinions (Rubin, 2017). Political opinions have led to the broadening of the program and increase in the amount of funding dedicated to the program. Politics have also led to the inception of innovative mechanisms of running the program to reach more people and at lower costs (Winterton et al., 2013). However, politics is not always positive to the survival and future of the program. Recently, the federal government of the USA has announced plans to slash the amount of money allocated to the program.
Nurses have an important role to play in aiding the success of the meals on wheel program. First, nurses can directly prevent malnutrition by being educators; they can educate elders in both hospital and community settings (Thomas & Mor, 2013). Moreover, nurses have a role in managing the various complications that result from malnutrition in the elderly whenever they present (Thomas & Mor, 2013). Additionally, since it might not be clear, it is the duty of nurses to demystify that malnutrition is behind the poor health of some elders. Nurses, especially those working in the community can also contribute to the meals on wheel program directly by volunteering to deliver meals to enlisted elders, identifying other elders who can benefit from the program, and by educating elders on adherence to nutrition.
The meals on wheels program is an important solution to geriatric malnutrition in many countries, which practice it. Although it is not perfect, the program has helped elders get quality food and have a chance to socialize with individuals who deliver the food to them. The program thus solves an important social program and enhances the social lives of affected elders. The large number of people affected and the finances required for the program attract a lot of political interest; this interest is, however, not always helpful to the program. Nurses have an important role to play in facilitating the program and prevent malnutrition among the elderly. Reduced incidence of malnutrition will reduce the number of enlisted individuals hence enhancing the effectiveness of the program.
References
Fávaro-Moreira, N. C., Krausch-Hofmann, S., Matthys, C., Vereecken, C., Vanhauwaert, E., Declercq, A., … & Duyck, J. (2016). Risk factors for malnutrition in older adults: a systematic review of the literature based on longitudinal data. Advances in Nutrition: An International Review Journal, 7(3), 507-522.
Rubin, I. S. (2017). The politics of public budgeting: Getting and spending, borrowing and balancing. Washington, D.C: CQ Press.
Strickhouser, S., Wright, J. D., & Dolney, A. M. (2014). Food insecurity among older adults: A report submitted to AARP Foundation. AARP.
Thomas, K. S., & Mor, V. (2013). Providing more home-delivered meals is one way to keep older adults with low care needs out of nursing homes. Health Affairs, 32(10), 1796-1802.
Winterton, R., Warburton, J., & Oppenheimer, M. (2013). The future for Meals on Wheels? Reviewing innovative approaches to meal provision for ageing populations. International Journal of Social Welfare, 22(2), 141-151.
Wright, L., Vance, L., Sudduth, C., & Epps, J. B. (2015). The impact of a home-delivered meal program on nutritional risk, dietary intake, food security, loneliness, and social well-being. Journal of nutrition in gerontology and geriatrics, 34(2), 218-227.
Zhu, H., & An, R. (2013). Impact of home-delivered meal programs on diet and nutrition among older adults: A review. Nutrition and health, 22(2), 89-103.
