Senior Nutrition Program

Funding is provided for these programs by Western Illinois Area Agency on Aging.

The importance of a healthy meal is essential to everyone, but it is critical to the welfare of the older adult. A hot meal enables a senior to have good nutrition when they no longer are inclined to prepare a well-balanced meal. The goal of the Senior Nutrition Program is to provide meals that help seniors stay healthy so they may enjoy their golden years and/or help them remain in their home if that is their desire.

Currently congregate meals are not being offered. When COVID restrictions lift to a satisfactory level the congregate meal service will resume.

Congregate meals are provided five days a week and are a wonderful way to get out of the house and socialize while enjoying a nutritious hot lunch. Different activities are planned around lunch so spending a few hours in the Center is a great way to be active and social in a day. Reservations are required and need to be made by 1pm the day before.

Home Delivered Meals (HDM) are also provided five days a week to those 60 and older and who are considered home bound and frail; there are other considerations, too. Our Outreach Specialist will conduct an in-home Nutrition Risk Assessment to determine if a senior qualifies. Older adults leaving the hospital or nursing home may qualify on a short-term basis due to a temporary condition. Referrals are also made by area agencies. Getting a home-delivered meal is greatly beneficial for seniors, enabling many to remain in their home.

At this time, all Nutrition Risk Assessments are done per a phone interview.

Our meals are catered by Hy-Vee and either served from our kitchen for congregate participants or packaged for delivery using our heat seal system that keeps food separated and uses biodegradable material. Our containers also enable clients to safely reheat food in the microwave or oven and can even be put in the freezer to be eaten later, if necessary.

Both Congregate and Home-Delivered Meals require a reservation. Please call 309-837-5733 by 1 pm the day before to make or cancel a meal. Anytime a meal can be cancelled in a timely manner allows us to adjust our meal count and thus not be charged for the meal that is no longer needed.  Good stewardship of the meal costs allows us to spread our funding further and provide for more seniors. Thank you!

MEAL DONATIONS

Our agency is required to send a donation statement to our Home-Delivered meal recipients each month. Below are suggested donation amounts – any amount is appreciated and helps offset meal costs.

People wishing to contribute to the cost of their Congregate Meal may do so at the site where a anonymous drop off container is available.

Suggested donation for those 60+:
Congregate: $4.00
Home Delivered Meals: $5.00

Guests of a senior congregate meal participant who is under the age of 60 may enjoy lunch for a fee of $6.50.

MCDONOUGH COUNTY MEALS SITES

Fortunately, there are other meal sites in McDonough County. Congregate and HDMs are also available in Bushnell and Colchester.

Dine-In Meal Sites: When allowed to reopen.

      • Macomb: Monday - Friday 11:30am - Call 309-837-5733
      • Bushnell: Monday - Friday 11:15am - Call 309-331-3455
      • Colchester: Mon, Wed, Thurs 11:30am - Call 309-837-5733

WEATHER RELATED CLOSING

Meals are served year-round except for major holidays (New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and the Friday after, and Christmas Day). Additional days will be noted in the monthly newsletter, The Visitor.

If the local school district cancels school due to bad weather there is a good chance meal delivery will be cancelled, but we do not adhere to that 100% of the time. If there is extreme cold or streets are icy/snowy and unsafe for meal delivery drivers, meals will be cancelled. Seniors need to listen to 104.7 WLMD-FM and WIUM 91.3 FM during adverse weather for meal cancellation announcements or site closures. Notice will also be posted on the YMCA website (macombymca.org) or our Facebook page. During the winter it is advisable to have shelf stable food on hand.