Meal programs are designed to meet the nutritional needs of elderly and disabled persons who have difficulty preparing their own meals. They may be delivered to the individual's home by organizations like "Meals on Wheels," or the individual may travel to another location where meals are served in a group setting. Meals are often included as part of other programs at senior centers or adult day centers, where a registered dietician is in charge of menus to ensure that proper nutrition is provided.

The home meal market is characterised by increasing competition as restaurants, private meal services, home-delivery services and even retailers deliver meals right to the door. Additionally, large hospital or retirement home kitchens having spare capacity may provide meals for elderly people living in their neighborhoods.

You will want to make sure that the program can accommodate any special dietary needs you may have, for either for medical or religious reasons. Check if it can provide liquid or chopped meals, should this need arise in the future.

Before you visit or call facilities, you may wish to print out copies of Getcare's Home-delivered Meals Checklist or Meal Programs Checklist, which provides detailed questions to help you evaluate and compare services or facilities.

Many meal programs are subsidized through federal or local agencies, or through the sponsorship of churches and community groups. Although these subsidized programs are targeted at low-income persons, most are open to people of any income level. The charge for these meals will be small, if any, and dependant on an individual's income.