Malnutrition Research
Malnutrition is a serious epidemic facing older Americans. Malnutrition among adults over 65 years is a growing concern because this health condition often goes undiagnosed and unrecognized, resulting in costly and sometimes fatal outcomes. (1)
In a recent study of 49 Meals on Wheels participants, researchers showed that three months of participation in the meal program significantly improved the nutrition status of malnourished clients with 42% identified as malnourished upon enrollment and only 8% identified at the three month follow up.
Using the same validated nutrition screening instrument referenced in this study, MOWCTX has been evaluating the impact our meals have on malnutrition for over 10 years. Our case managers use the Mini Nutritional Assessment on new clients aged 65 and older during their initial home visit to identify ‘malnourished’ and ‘at risk’ clients. Staff from our Nutrition, Health, and Impact Department then rescreen these clients after three months of receiving meals.
Over the last several years, we have found that 2 out of 3 ‘malnourished’ or ‘at risk’ clients improved in just three months of meal service. This data tells us that MOWCTX meals provide a therapeutic intervention leading to the improvement in nutrition status of clients served.
Citations
1. Defeat Malnutrition Today. (2017). Malnutrition and Older Adults: Review of the U.S. Federal Health Policy Landscape. https://www.defeatmalnutrition.today/sites/default/files/documents/Review%20Article%20DMT%20January%202017.pdf
Sunshine Calls
MOWCTX’s holistic approach to senior care includes programs to help battle older adult isolation and loneliness. For example, we worked with our partners at the Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin to evaluate the impact of a four-week program called “Sunshine Calls”.
Sunshine Calls was a randomized control trial that evaluated the effect of regular friendly calls to homebound older adults by measuring a range of mental health and self-rated health outcomes. Of the 240 MOWCTX participants who completed the study, researchers demonstrated that the friendly calls significantly reduced loneliness, depression and anxiety and improved the general mental health of our clients within four weeks.
Based at Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin, Factor Health is a platform that tests and scales programs that improve health and are delivered mostly outside the clinic, in people’s lives. Factor Health works with social service providers, health care payers, and researchers to build and test programs with health outcomes that are relevant to health care payers.
Sunshine Calls for Mental Health
‘Sunshine Calls’: Alleviating Isolation for Older Adults
Citations
1. Health Resources & Services Administration. (2019). The "Loneliness Epidemic". https://www.hrsa.gov/enews/past-issues/2019/january-17/loneliness-epidemic
2. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2020. Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults: Opportunities for the Health Care System. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557974/
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Frequently Asked Questions
Your contribution helps us deliver nutritious meals, provide well-being checks, and offer additional services like home repairs and in-home care.
Your contribution helps us deliver nutritious meals, provide well-being checks, and offer additional services like home repairs and in-home care.
Yes, we are a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity incorporated in the State of Texas. Our EIN is 23-7202594. Gifts to Meals on Wheels Central Texas are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Yes! The information you will need to provide to your broker is:
Meals on Wheels and More, Inc., D/B/A Meals on Wheels Central Texas
3227 East 5th Street, Austin, TX 78702
DTC Number: 0725
Meals on Wheels and More Account Number: 782L0755
Broker: Meagan Moll, Meridian Wealth Advisors
Phone: 512-717-5579
Our Tax ID Number: 23-7202594
Yes! Legacy gifts are a wonderfully meaningful way to ensure that we are able to serve our neighbors today and for generations to come. With a 52-year track record of serving the community, you can feel confident that Meals on Wheels Central Texas will continue to be here for generations to come.
The fundraising cost per dollar raised is about $.10; about 10% of fundraising revenue is used to pay for fundraising expenses.
All of our expenses are used to make our programs successful, but about 79% of our expenses are direct program expenses (used for the direct care of our neighbors).
Yes. While unrestricted gifts are always appreciated and allow us to meet the greatest needs of the organization, we are also grateful for gifts to any of our specific programs, including Home Delivered Meals, In-Home Care, CARE Team, and Home Repair. We also have occasional needs for specific things such as delivery vehicles and kitchen equipment. During those times, we can accept donations for those specific needs.
We appreciate the generous intentions of our supporters. There are certain types of non-monetary gifts in kind that we can accept, but others, such as most gifts of food and supplies, that may be better used if given to other non-profit organizations because we are not positioned to use them in our operations. Please call our Advancement Office at 737-218-4265 to discuss your goals.
Yes! Gifts in honor of a loved one or friend are a wonderful way to celebrate that person’s life and legacy. You may make a memorial or tribute gift on our website https://www.mealsonwheelscentraltexas.org/?campaign=426730, by mail, or by calling the Advancement Office. Please include the name and contact information of the individual you are honoring if you would like us to notify them of your gift. (Please note, we never notify the honoree or their family of the amount of a gift, only that one was made in their honor/memory.)
Yes, there are many ways to help support and advance our work through volunteer fundraising. Please reach out to Gissell Perez, Director of Development, at gperez@mowctx.org or 737-218-4139.