Please Note:  There is a waitlist for Meals on Wheels

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Frequently Asked Questions

 

If you do need more information, contact:

Diane Faulkner at dfaulkner@councilonaging.com or call 707-525-0143 ext. 115

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Am I eligible to get Meals on Wheels? 

​Seniors 60 years of age and older who are homebound and unable to drive are eligible to receive Meals on Wheels. You may also receive Meals on Wheels, regardless of your age, if you are the spouse/partner of a 60+ senior who is receiving meals, or are a person with a disability living with the 60+ home-bound senior.  Please Note:  There is currently a waitlist for Meals on Wheels

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Where do I get an application?

You don’t need to fill out an application. We do our initial screening over the phone.  If you qualify we will set up an in-home visit to complete the intake process with a Client Intake Specialist. ​

How much does it cost?

We ask for a contribution of $4.00 per meal, however, no one will be denied meals for the inability to contribute. 

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Do I pay the driver every day?

​Each month you will receive a notification of the number of meals we delivered to you the previous month. There will be a pre-paid return envelope with that statement; put the contribution you can afford in the envelope and mail it back to Council on Aging.

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What if I can’t afford to send you any contribution for my meal?

We will continue to deliver meals to you. Contributions are voluntary and will not impact your services.

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How many meals can I receive in a week?

You may receive up to 7 meals per week.  One meal per day.

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When are meals delivered? ​

Meals are delivered between 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. If you are receiving weekend meals they will be delivered Friday and will be frozen.  These meals can be reheated in a microwave or conventional oven.

 

What kind of food do you serve?

Our program is based on a low sodium, heart healthy menu. A Registered Dietician approves all recipes for nutritional content.  There are 3 menus: Poultry, Vegetarian, or Beef/Pork/Fish.  Each meal includes a protein, a vegetable, a healthy grain, milk, fruit, and a roll.

 

Can I order what I like, or substitute for meals I don’t like?

​We prepare close to 1,500 meals per day, so we have a fixed menu each day. However, we do prepare our menus a month ahead and each client gets a new menu at the beginning of each month. If you do not like the meal that has been assigned to you on a particular day, you may call up to 2 weeks in advance to change your meal. If you have an allergy or aversion to a protein on the menu, we can make changes to that protein.

 

Can I call you every day to order for the next day?

​Unfortunately, this is not possible.  We prepare so many meals each day and need to be mindful of food costs, production, and packaging of meals. We require all clients have an established delivery pattern.

 

Can I receive a partial order?

​Our program is designed to deliver nutritionally approved meals daily to people who need them.  Unfortunately, we cannot customize an order.

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Can you deliver my meal for dinner?

Our meals are cooked and packaged the previous day. Our delivery routes are designed to enable us to get the maximum number of meals to the maximum number of clients Monday through Friday.  Based on our current capacity, that means that meals are delivered in the middle of the day.

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What time of day will it be delivered?

It depends on where you live. In Santa Rosa, your route may get meals as early as 10:00 am or as late as 2:00 pm. The meals will be delivered at about the same time every day. In surrounding communities, meals generally arrive around lunchtime.

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Can you leave the meal on my doorstep or in a cooler if I am not home?

We deliver chilled food that must be kept at a specific temperature due to mandated food codes and we cannot risk our clients’ health by leaving meals un-refrigerated for an unknown period of time. We also like to see our clients do a wellness check to make sure they are ok.

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I am disabled; can I get Meals on Wheels?

Unfortunately, disability alone does not qualify you for this senior program.

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How is the program funded? 

Meals on Wheels of Sonoma County is a program run by the Council on Aging of Santa Rosa.  COA is a private non-profit established over 55 years ago to serve local seniors. Only 38% of our annual budget is provided by Federal funding under the Older Americans Act. The remaining funds needed each year are generated through donations, fundraising events, and grants.

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