The Home-Delivered Meals Program: A Promising Intervention for Suburban Older Adults Living Alone

This study examined differences in perceived benefits of home-delivered meals between older adults living alone and those living with others. Recommendations were also discussed to enhance services by examining differences between these two subgroups. This study used secondary data analysis focusing on two open-ended questions that were collected in a client satisfaction survey conducted by AgeOptions, the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) in suburban Cook County, Illinois. Out of 199 older adults or their caregivers who participated in the survey, 126 (63.3%) older adults were living alone. All of the survey participants shared their perception of home-delivered meals benefits, and 91 respondents (45.7%) offered recommendations on the program. The results suggest that there is a greater need for transportation options, financial security, regular safety checks, and basic support for older adults who live alone compared to those living with others. The most frequent recommendation from all older adults was increasing the variety of meal options. Older adults living alone complained less about taste and the way meals were cooked than older adults living with others, but they requested availability of meals customized for those with unique needs. Additionally, older adults living alone offered a wider range of recommendations for the program as well as identify more diverse benefits from the program than those living with others.