Meals on Wheels America affirms benefit of social nutrition programs for seniors

Meals on Wheels America’s new findings from a pilot study quantitatively measure how regular social interaction alleviates feelings of disconnectedness in older adults. The analysis found 53% of participants who received friendly calls and/or visits reported “statistically significant” reductions in social disconnectedness. 

Social isolation and loneliness are growing public health concerns and was declared a national epidemic in 2023 by the US Surgeon General. The negative consequences of social isolation include anxiety, depression, cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, lower quality of life and increased use of health care services.

Supporting more than 5,000 community-based providers across the US dedicated to addressing senior isolation and hunger, the organization is exploring ways to expand its operational reach.

“This pilot validates existing findings that Meals on Wheels providers offer impactful social connection programming and uncovers meaningful lessons for scaling these valuable, time-intensive offerings,” says Laura Belazis, senior director of Strategy & Impact at Meals on Wheels America.

“From here, we will work to reduce operational barriers to providing social connection programs and improve the depth and quality of social interactions as we scale these offerings to additional providers within the Meals on Wheels network.”

Meals on Wheels

Meals on Wheels social connection programs link volunteers with seniors in their communities through two key activities: friendly calling and visiting. Friendly calling involves regular phone calls made by a volunteer or staff member to provide conversation and companionship.

Friendly visiting refers to in-person, one-on-one engagements between a senior and a volunteer, scheduled regularly over an extended period of time. The service delivers pre-packed nutritious meals to high-risk or disabled seniors.

Through this pilot study, conducted with ten local Meals on Wheels providers, Meals on Wheels America examined how these interactions affect feelings of disconnectedness in older adults.

The research found seniors who received regular calls and visits reported feeling significantly more content with their friendships and relationships and ability to find companionship.

Participants showed improvements in emotional well-being, with many expressing increased happiness and a stronger sense of community.

When asked about the impact of the social connection program on their life, a study participant shared: “I’m speaking from my heart. I love this program. It makes me feel alive, like someone cares. And I know I’m not the only lonely senior.”

A recent UK study of nearly 4,000 British participants found that individuals 50 and older who live alone are more likely to have low levels of key nutrients, such as folate and vitamins C and B6. The University College London scientists behind the study warn that this puts them at risk of developing numerous health problems.