Free Meals for Seniors & Chronic Illness: Food as Medicine
How can food be used as medicine?
Food as Medicine involves using specific foods to prevent or treat health conditions. As part of this movement seniors and those with chronic illnesses can qualify for free meals tailored to meet their nutritional needs. These meals are tailored to provide essential nutrients that support healing, recovery, and overall well-being. You can learn more about our medically tailored meals by clicking here.
Key Highlights to FREE Meal Programs
In the United States, a lot of older adults find it hard to get enough of the nutrient dense foods needed to keep them in good health. In fact, estimates show that around 25% of older adults are malnourished or at risk of malnourishment with an expected rise as the population continues to age. In addition to this more than 80% of Elderly Americans have a least one chronic disease.
Low Awareness of Important health Benefits
Despite being eligible for help from supplemental nutrition programs like Home Delivery Meals and SNAP, many older adults are not aware of and don't take advantage of this support from important Food as Medicine programs. For those dealing with long-term sicknesses or advanced aging, there's a chance to get meals delivered right to their door at no cost through certain Medicaid, Medicare plans, or even local organizations focused on helping chronically ill or aging Americans.
If you want to see if your are eligible for FREE meals, you can click here to fill out our eligibility form, which only takes 2 minutes!
Intro to Food as Medicine
Medicaid is bringing food as medicine to life by offering these free Medicaid meal deliveries as part of its health care services for people who need extra help over the long term. On top of that, some Medicare Advantage plans throw in meal service as an extra perk that isn’t directly related to health care but is meant to aid recovery after hospital stays or manage ongoing health issues better.
Then there are Area Agencies on Aging which support nutrition programs that help older adults age in place thanks to funding from the Older Americans Act. Many older adults are afflicted with age-related conditions resulting in difficulties in carrying out activities in daily life. These nutrition programs are designed specifically for individuals aged 60 and above including delivering meals free charge right where they live.
To sign up for our nutrition program, and see if you are eligibly for free, home-delivered meals, fill out our eligibility form here.
Nutrition and the Rise of Preventable Chronic Illness
In the United States, more people are getting sick with long-term health problems like heart disease, obesity, and diabetes and for senior's nutrition related illnesses such as sarcopenia, fragility and obesity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that more men and women die from heart disease than any other cause. When it comes to obesity, things aren't looking great either with over 40% of adults in the U.S. being above the recommended BMI. Diabetes is another big issue affecting millions across the country, leading to high healthcare costs and serious further health complications like heart and kidney disease.
Impact of Chronic Illness on Healthcare
These issues don't just affect those who have them; they also put a lot of pressure on our healthcare system. To manage these chronic illnesses well, it's important to eat right and get good-quality food. However, this can be tough for many older adults and folks living with these health conditions because of challenges such as not being as mobile, having trouble thinking clearly or remembering things, and other social factors that impact health. If you are facing these challenges, you may be eligible for coverage of our home-delivered meals. Find out by filling out our eligibility form.
Understanding Food as Medicine
The idea of using food as medicine is not new, in fact it dates back to our father of modern medicine Hippocrates who famously coined the phrase "Let Food be Thy Medicine, and Medicine be Thy Food". As a principle it's a pretty simple concept, it's all about making sure people get to eat healthy, high quality, nutrient dense foods that are just right for what their body needs.
Why is Food as Medicine Just Now Emerging
Widespread implementation has historically been difficult, but with the increase in coverage of meals being activated in recent revisions of the Older American Act and Chronic Ill Act, these solutions are finally coming to life, just 3,500 years later. With programs that include specially designed meals for medical conditions, we can help those with long-term illnesses by meeting their unique nutrition needs. By solidifying the link between what we eat, and our health, doctors and other healthcare providers can add science-backed nutrition solutions to their healthcare toolbox, leading to better health outcomes. This also includes incorporating medically tailored meals and free food into our existing healthcare framework, so it is accessible and affordable for those who need it most.
The Science Behind Food and Health
Many research projects have shown that what we eat greatly affects our health. Eating right is key to stopping and handling long-term sicknesses, making us healthier overall, and boosting how well we live. Leading researchers like Dr. Valter Longo and organizations like The Food is Medicine Coalition, which is a group of organizations all about using food as medicine, point out the strong proof linking proper nutrition with better health. If you want to read more about Dr. Longo's research and the science behind the Longevity Diet, click here.
What Role Providers Play in Access
When doctors give people specially made meals and help related to nutrition, they can make a big difference in improving patients' health results and lessening the impact of ongoing illnesses. Medically tailored meals are specially made to fit the unique nutritional needs of people who have long-term health issues. These meals come together with help from registered dietitians, and researchers, making sure they match what each person indication specific needs for their diet. With high-quality ingredients and careful macro tailoring, these dishes also keep in mind any allergies or food limits someone might have because of their illness.
Are you a provider looking to refer your patient? You can refer them today by filling out our eligibility form here. It only takes 2 minutes!
The Role of Free Medicaid Meals
Special Medicaid plans are really important for giving seniors and people with long-term illnesses access to meals that meet their medical needs. Through its Long-Term Services and Supports program, along with other waiver programs, Medicaid provides meals delivered right to the homes of those dealing with disabling conditions or chronic diseases. This helps make sure they get the nutrition they need to stay healthy and independent. Want to see if you are eligible for free meals? Check your eligibility by filling out our eligibility form.
Medicare Meals and Community-Based Meal Programs
Some Medicare Advantage plans include extra perks like home delivered meals, medically tailored meals, and other free food programs like prescription groceries among others, aiming to improve the overall health of their members by ensuring proper nutrition is part of their care plan. Many states also have Home and Community Based Waiver Programs that cover diverse needs for those with Chronic Illnesses, Older Adults and those with Disabilities.
Navigating Benefits: A Step-by-Step Guide to Free Food
Understanding how to get medically tailored meals with the benefits you have might seem hard at first, but if we break it down into steps, it gets easier. Here's what you need to do:- First off, figure out if you qualify: Look into whether you fit the criteria for Medicaid, Medicare Advantage plans or programs offered by Area Agencies on Aging. There are tools available to check eligibility like N4L's eligibility check. You can fill out the form by clicking here.
- With eligibility confirmed, seek a referral: Talk to your doctor or case manager and ask them for a referral so that you can start receiving these special meals designed just for your health needs. Follow instructions if special documents are needed like a Medical Necessity Form.
- Then reach out to the right people: Get in touch with either your Medicaid or Medicare Advantage plan provider or contact an Area Agency on Aging near you. They'll tell you about the meal benefits they offer and how exactly to go about getting them.
- Lastly, follow through with their process: Fill out any forms they require from you thoroughly so that there are no hitches in starting up those home-delivered meals.
By sticking closely to these guidelines, folks can make sure they're making full use of available resources aimed at improving their nutritional needs and overall well-being.
Overcoming Challenges in Accessing Home Delivery Meals
Getting meals that are specially made for health needs can be tough because often basic food insecurity needs must be addressed first, costs of high-quality prepared meals can appear high, and many places across the US are food desserts making access to nutritious foods a challenge. A lot of older adults and people with long-term health issues can face barriers in getting tailored nutrition. This could be because they cannot afford high quality ingredients, struggle to plan, shop and prepare food, or live somewhere without many options for buying food.
There are solutions to fix these problems.
Things like delivering free meals right to someone's door, programs that help pay for food, and working together between those who provide healthcare and nutrition services can make a big difference. By tackling these obstacles head-on, people can get the special diet foods they need which helps them stay healthy.
The Future of Food as Medicine
Looking ahead, the idea of using food as medicine is really promising for making healthcare more effective and affordable and helping people age in place and improve quality of life. There is more research being conducted than ever before to learn more about how what we eat can help prevent and deal with long-lasting illnesses. This change in thinking shows that there's a big connection between nutrition and staying healthy, aiming to make sure eating right is part of everyone’s care. By seeing food as an important tool in fighting illness, we could totally change how chronic diseases are handled, which means people would end up healthier and happier overall.
Conclusion
Food as Medicine takes a whole person view on dealing with long-term health problems. It's not just about eating to stay alive; it's about using food to turn sick care into health care. By understanding how important what we eat is for our well-being and health outcomes, people can now get meals made just for their health needs through Medicaid, Medicare and Waiver Programs. These prepared meals full of high quality, nutrient dense foods don't just help save healthcare costs but also create access to those most in need and help our communities thrive.
Awareness and Access
By tackling the problem of awareness and access we're moving towards a world where food plays a key role in shaping our health, and healthcare system. Empowering our communities by educating members about the benefits they are eligible for, how Food can be Medicine, and how incorporating nutrient dense foods into our lives can lead toward living healthier and more fulfilling lives. You can check your eligibility by clicking HERE.
Frequently Asked Questions
What conditions can benefit from medically tailored meals?
For people dealing with long-term health issues like kidney disease, heart disease, diabetes, and similar conditions that need a special diet, medically tailored meals can be really helpful. These specially designed meals meet the unique nutritional needs of those individuals. By doing so, they help improve the overall health and well-being of these folks.
How do I qualify for free meals?
If you're looking to see if your meals can be covered under Medicaid or Medicare Advantage, it's a good idea to talk with your case manager or check with your health plan. With Medicare Advantage, meal benefits are usually an extra perk they throw in. On the other hand, Medicaid helps out by covering meals that get delivered to your home through programs called Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS). Click here to check eligibility.
References
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-22-135.html
https://ncoa.org/article/seniors-snap-5-myths-busted
https://www.benefitscheckup.org/
https://eldercare.acl.gov/Public/About/Aging_Network/AAA.aspx
https://liheapch.acf.hhs.gov/search-tool/
https://localhelp.healthcare.gov/#/
https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program