SERVICE AREA
We provide home delivery in the Berrien and Van Buren Counties of Michigan.

SERVICE ELIGIBILITY

1. The person must be 60 years of age or older or be the spouse of a person at least 60 years of age or be disabled and living in a senior housing facility or a handicapped dependent of a senior eligible client.

2. The individual must be homebound; i.e. does not leave his or her house under normal circumstances.

3. The person must be generally unable to eat meals at the congregate dining nutrition center because they are physically or emotionally challenged.

4. The individual must be unable to obtain food or prepared meals.

5. There is no adult living in the same building or area willing to prepare meals.

6. The meals available would not jeopardize the health of the individual.

7. The individual is able to feed him/herself.

8. Individual must be home when meals are delivered.

You may continue to receive by complying with all of the eligibility requirements.

A Senior Nutrition Services staff member will come to your house to assess your nutritional needs within 10 days of service.  Reassessments are performed at six month intervals, or more frequently if necessary, to insure that clients are still eligible for meal services.  At the time of the assessment other non-nutritional needs are noted.  Referrals can be made to other service providers, at the senior's request, or in case of an immediate, life-threatening emergency.

Any client becoming ineligible will be informed verbally and/or in writing.  If the client is unavailable, the emergency contact person will be notified.

Seniors no longer eligible to receive home delivered meals are encouraged to participate at a dining center.  Dissatisfaction with ineligibility determination may be directed, in writing, to the nutrition director.

REQUESTING THESE SERVICES
When requesting service please contact the Home Delivered Meals Clerk at 1-800-722-5392 (in Michigan) or (269) 925-0137.  Senior Nutrition Services can provide the following special diets:

• General

• Low Salt - All meals are low salt - No extra added salt

• Low Fat

• Diabetic

• Mechanical

• Puree

A physician's prescription for modified diets is required.  Through a physicians orders, Senior Nutrition Services may be able to provide liquid dietary supplements.

Referrals for meal services are accepted from all sources.  We will contact the senior to discuss the program.  Each referral will be assessed for eligibility.  If you have needs other than meals, please contact us.  We can assist you in finding help.

To refer a senior, call us at 1-800-722-5392 (in Michigan) or (269) 925-0137.  Or click here to complete our on-line Refer a Senior in Need Form.

On occasion, Senior Nutrition Services may have more requests for meals than our funding can provide.  Such requests will then be place on a waiting list and served according to need.

CANCELING YOUR MEALS
Senior Nutrition Services understands, on occasion, you may need to be away from home when your meal is delivered.  If such an emergency arises, please call our office to cancel your meal AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!  We must have 24 hours prior to the morning of your absence to cancel the meal at the kitchen, or we must pay for that meal.  Homebound clients who repeatedly are not at home when meals are delivered, may be terminated from the program  UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES CAN SENIOR NUTRITION SERVICES LEAVE YOUR MEAL IF YOU ARE NOT HOME.

CONTRIBUTION SCHEDULE
Meal contributions are encouraged based on this sliding scale and clients' income.  We ask that you donate what you can afford to help with the cost of providing the meals.  No one is denied meals for inability to pay.

Please Contribute Your "Fair Share"

Your Contributions are essential in providing these meals.

COMMENTS ON SERVICES
Comments on services are welcome by the Program Coordinator.  Comments can be made to the person performing the assessment or any staff member by calling our office.  Evaluation forms can be filled out and sent to the Program Coordinator.  Comments can also be e-mailed to our office at seniorns@parrett.net.  All written complaints will be investigated and the client will be notified of the outcome.