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Texas Department on Aging statistics
indicate that up to 85 percent of Texans
over age 65 or 90,000
Tarrant County residents are at risk of malnutrition due to risk
factors, including isolation, poverty,
disability, chronic prescription drug
misuse and poor dietary choices.
Locally, we fund two programs addressing the
nutritional needs of older Tarrant County
residents:
Congregate Meals at Senior Centers
Senior Citizen Services of Greater Tarrant
County serves hot, delicious meals five days
a week, in a home-away-from-home environment
at 27 senior centers.
These centers also offer health assessments,
nutrition education, physical fitness,
advocacy, creative arts, legal clinics,
volunteer opportunities, confidential
information and referral, and other
activities.
All people age 60 and older and their
spouses are eligible for the congregate meal
and senior center programs. There are no
income limits or restrictions. Meals are
served on a donation basis. Lunch
reservations are required by noon the
preceding day. To find the Senior Center
nearest you, call Senior Citizen Services at
817-338-4433.
Home Delivered Meals
Meals On Wheels Inc. of Tarrant County
prepares and delivers meals to homebound disabled
and
elderly people. Over 2,200 well-balanced
meals are prepared each day and delivered by
caring volunteers to persons living
throughout Tarrant County. Meals On Wheels
addresses the nutritional and social needs
of its clients, enables them to remain at
home avoiding costly institutionalization,
and helps them avoid isolation.
Persons must be homebound,
unable to prepare a meal for themselves and
have no one able to prepare a nutritious
meal for them. Eligibility is based on need;
there are no age or income criteria. Each
client and/or prospective client is paired
with a professional caseworker who assesses
his or her needs, coordinates other needed
services and advocates for Meals On Wheels
clients with other agencies.
The meals, daily
contact by caring volunteers and
professional case management allow many
frail, homebound persons to remain in their
own homes.
For more
information about the organization, or to
volunteer, call 817-336-0912 or visit the Web site at
www.mealsonwheels.org.
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