Thursday, February 15, 2007 Older Editions

Meals on Wheels: Thousands more seniors taking meals in homes

By Brian Messenger

The growing number of Andover seniors receiving Meals on Wheels reflects a steady change in the town's over-60 population, said Senior Center Director Kathy Urquhart.

Between fiscal years 2002 and 2006, the number of meals provided by the service that were delivered to seniors' homes jumped from 13,000 to 18,000, and that figure is expected to break 20,000 by the end of FY07, according to Urquhart.

"I think it's because of the growing numbers of older seniors in the community. People are living longer, and therefore are more frail and in more need of services," said Urquhart. "They're staying in the community, rather than going into nursing homes."

The number of delivery routes required in Andover for the Meals on Wheels program has also increased, doubling from three just five years ago to six currently.

Urquhart estimates that between Monday and Friday, 85 meals a day are delivered to Andover seniors through the program, while about a dozen also receive frozen meals on Fridays to cover the weekend. On top of that, 40 to 50 seniors eat meals at the Senior Center every day during the week.

The increases in use come at a time when the Massachusetts Institute for Social and Economic Research estimates Andover's senior population will rise higher than the levels predicted statewide. MISER was formed in 1981 by the University of Massachusetts.

"They don't know why. They're just going on the trends that they see," said Urquhart of Andover's anticipated rate.

Compared to year 2000 figures, MISER predicts there will be 1,150 more residents in Andover ages 70 or older by 2020.

Looking ahead, Urquhart said the senior center has plans to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment of the town's senior population this summer to help better gage what services are needed, starting with the needs of those 90 and older.

"We'll literally be contacting all senior residents in town," said Urquhart. "We want to get a sense of what the big picture is."

Urquhart hopes to eventually increase the number of Meals on Wheels drivers, and has already expanded the senior center's in-house nutrition program. A hot meal is still available at the center at noon, and now seniors can buy sandwiches from a lunch cart between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The expanded program, which began in July, is expected to add $8,000 in revenue.

"It gives them a lot of options," said Urquhart. "That would offset the nutrition program assistant [salary] and some of the Meals on Wheels costs."

The Meals on Wheels program has lost nearly $54,000 this fiscal year, despite suggested donations for meals being increased from $2 to $2.50. Although Andover's program cooks food from scratch instead of using prepared foods like many surrounding communities, Urquhart said the cost is comparable and provides better nutrition.