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Nutrition

Summary
HESSCO Elder Services’ nutrition program operates hot lunch programs serving individuals 60 years and older, and their spouses, who live in
the south Norfolk County area.

Meals are served on-site in Canton, Dedham, Foxboro, Medfield, Millis, Norfolk, Norwood, Plainville, Sharon, Walpole, Westwood, and Wrentham. At the Sharon site, ethnic Indian vegetarian and Chinese meals are offered once a month, along with Russian meals during the year. Nutrition counseling is also available.

Cost of service to client
There is a suggested confidential $2.50 donation for each meal.

Volunteer opportunities
Volunteers are an essential part of the Nutrition Program, and we’re always looking for more! The time commitment is two hours daily, weekly, or monthly-whatever fits your schedule best.

• Meals on Wheels volunteer drivers deliver meals to frail elders living at home.
• Dining room volunteers help package home delivered meals, set up the dining room, and clean up after meals.
• HESSCO’s Meals on Wheels Adopt a Route Program. Is your business or community group looking to make a positive difference in the communities you serve? HESSCO’s Adopt a Route Program is an easy, yet effective way for your company or organization to involve themselves in their local communities. Call Chandra at 781-784-4944 ext 214 for more infomation.

Click here to access the Volunteer Application.
Thank you for taking the time to complete the volunteer application. Please mail completed application to:

HESSCO Elder Services
One Merchant Street
Sharon, Massachusetts 02067
ATTENTION: Chandra Ganapathy

About the Nutrition Program
The Nutrition Program has three parts: congregate meals served in a dining room, home-delivered meals (Meals on Wheels), and nutrition counseling.

Social meals (also called congregate meals) are hot lunches served in settings such as senior centers, where people gather together. Our meals taste great, have no added salt, are low in fat (under 30% of total calories), and are modified for diabetics.

Each meal meets the federal government’s requirements that we provide 1/3 of the nutrients needed by an older American. The menus are determined monthly by our Nutritionist. An Advisory Council provides us with regular feedback from clients about our menus.

Transportation to and from the meal locations are provided by Councils on Aging.

Home-delivered meals (Meals on Wheels)
HESSCO Elder Services provides home-delivered meals to elders who would otherwise have difficulty getting to one of our meal sites. For those who are determined to be eligible, a hot meal can be delivered between the hours of 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Others with additional needs may be
able to receive a supper bag, frozen or weekend meals. Lunches are the same hot meals as are available at our sites.

Volunteer drivers bring all of these meals to clients’ homes. This person-to-person contact also serves as a check on the elder’s condition. Please contact us to ask for an assessment if you or someone you know may be in need of home-delivered meals.

Home Delivered Meals Program receives a Subaru “Share the Love” Holiday Meals grant. This award will help HESSCO serve nutritious meals to seniors in need during the 2009 holiday season.  Thank you Subaru of America, Inc.

Nutrition counseling
Individual nutrition counseling is available by calling the nutrition office at HESSCO Elder Services. The main phone number is (781) 784-4944. Nutrition presentations and cooking demonstrations are given at the meal sites.

Frequently asked questions

Q: How much do meals cost?
A: There is no charge for social meals or home-delivered meals, but we request a donation of $2.50 per meal to help defray the cost of the program. Donations are strictly voluntary and confidential. Donation envelopes are available at the sites and from the drivers who deliver meals, or you may mail a check directly to our offices. We accept food stamps as donations. Each congregate meal costs us $6.25 to prepare and serve. Each home-delivered meal is now nearly $6.70 to prepare and deliver.

Q: What are the criteria for receiving home-delivered meals?
A: Home delivered hot lunch meals are available 5 days a week to people 60 years of age or older with limited mobility, and their spouses, who are unable to prepare meals for any of the following reasons:

• They lack the physical, emotional, or cognitive ability to attend a meal site or prepare a nutritious meal
• They have no facility to prepare meals
• They have no formal or informal support system to provide a meal.

Cold supper packs are available for people who meet the criteria above; these are delivered with the hot noon meals only, 5 days a week. Meals are also available on weekends and holidays; and Kosher, pureed and other special meals are available to those who meet certain criteria. For a list of these options and their availability, click here.

Q: How can I sign up for home delivered meals?
A: Call HESSCO Elder Services at (781) 784-4944. A care manager will visit you to determine your eligibility for the meals. This process is
free and the care manager will answer all your questions.

Q: How can I sign up for the social meals?
A: Anyone 60 years of age and over and their spouses are eligible to attend any of the sites for noontime meals. Reservations are required two days in advance by calling the meal site (see below for the list) or HESSCO Elder Services’ office at (781) 784-4944.

Q: Where are social meals served?
A: Social meals are served in each town in the area served by HESSCO Elder Services. The sites and their phone numbers are listed below:

Canton – Hagen Court Elder Housing
230 Washington Street
781-828-7227

Canton – D. Forbes Will Senior Center
660 Washington Street
781-821-0093

Dedham – Community Center
O’Neil Drive
781-784-4944

Foxborough – The Rodman Room
Carl Annon Court
508-698-0754

Medfield – Council on Aging
1 Icehouse Road
508-359-3665 × 3

Millis – Council on Aging
900 Main Street
508-376-7056

Norfolk – Norfolk Senior Center
28 Medway Branch
508-541-6872

Norwood – Trinity Community Church
234 Walpole Street
781-762-5419

Plainville – Council on Aging
9 School Street
508-699-0937

Sharon – Stony Brook Housing
Hixon Farm Road
781-784-9000

Walpole – Town Hall (Rear)
Stone & School Street
508-668-3423

Westwood -Drop-In Center
60 Nahatan Street
781-329-6514

Wrentham – Drop-In Center
400 Taunton Street
508-384-1164

Each meal contains at least 1/3 of the current daily Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of nutrients and considers the special dietary needs of the elderly. The caloric range per meal falls between 700-800 calories. The fat content, based on total calories, does not exceed 30-35%. The sodium content of the meal falls within the range of a No Salt Added diet (3-4 gm/day).