There’s a light at the end of the tunnel for many at-risk seniors who have been at home with limited access to food and company during the coronavirus pandemic. Longmont’s Meals on Wheels program recently announced that starting in early July it will return to delivering meals and performing client welfare checks five days a week.
To reduce the potential of exposure to COVID-19, the program made a host of changes to protect clients staff and volunteers, many of whom are older adults themselves. Those changes included contactless delivery, providing a week’s worth of food in a single visit, and making do with online wellness checks rather than face-to-face visits.
Volunteer Marge Lucko, who has been driving with Meals on Wheels for 11 years, said the resumption in service can’t come quickly enough. “I’m really looking forward to seeing my folks again during my driving shift.”
She talked about one of her clients who recently gave up her car and has been through multiple surgeries, whose isolation was compounded by COVID-19.
“She and her dog are going to be so happy to see us. I’ve missed the interactions and I’m sure she has, too,” Lucko said.
Katie Wiser, Meals on Wheels development and communications director, stressed the value of drivers being able to reconnect with clients. “Some of our clients will tell us they are fine, even if there is something that is different from the usual. A volunteer will be able to see smaller changes because they’ll have eyes on the clients,” she said.
As services resume, clients concerned for their safety can opt not to receive meals by face-to-face delivery and instead choose contactless service and have drivers leave meals on their doorsteps. In either case, drivers can conduct in-person wellness checks at each daily delivery.
Meals on Wheels safety protocols, which are in line with Boulder County public health guidelines, include taking the temperatures of staff and volunteers before they enter the building or start service. Drivers also are asked to remain in their cars as meals are loaded. Staff members are required to wear face masks and to extensively use hand sanitizer.
With the return to five-day delivery, Meals on Wheels is ramping up kitchen service and putting out a call for more volunteer drivers. Volunteers need to have valid driver’s licenses, and those younger than 18 must be accompanied by an adult. A commitment of one day a week is preferred, but those who can do fewer shifts can be placed on a substitute driver’s list.
For more information on volunteering, visit LongmontMeals.org or call 303-772-0540.
