Baumbart worries that demand may exceed supply for meals delivered

Last week this column wrote about its concerns that Sheboygan County would have to limit its ability to provide meals for the elderly and those with disabilities who are homebound. Presently, to those who qualify and request it, meals continue to be delivered by volunteers.

Within the cities of Sheboygan, Sheboygan Falls, Plymouth and the northern part of the county, Sheboygan County works with the Meals on Wheels program. In southern Sheboygan County, meal delivery to the homebound is handled from the Adell Senior Food Site with volunteer drivers.

To understand what may be taking place, I met with Thomas Eggebrecht, director of the Department of Health and Human Services and Joan Ketterman, manager of Community Programs. I was told that budgetary issues developed this year in the program, caused in part by the increase in the number of people requesting homebound meals.

From Jan. 1 through July, 19,121 meals were delivered. Last year, during the same period, 16,281 meals were delivered.

Ketterman reported that the cost per meal averages about $6.40. Those receiving meals are encouraged to pay at least $3 per meal. Presently the Aging and Disability Resource Center is over its budget by $20,000. Federal Title 3 monies provide the program $66,353 and Sheboygan County matches it with $73,373.

Eggebrecht said that it is planned that $10,000 of federal stimulus money will be used, along with funding adjustments at the Department of Health and Human Services, to make up the difference. That will help in the short run. But with the increased use of the homebound meal program, he says adjustments will be needed. Next year it is likely those eating at the senior food sites or those receiving homebound meals will be encouraged to pay a $4-minimum for each meal.

Ketterman said she budgeted increased funding for the meal program for 2010 based on the higher 2009 meal usage. She feels that this increase should cover the needs for next year.

With the recent funding issues and the increasing number of people needing support, it was thought that a written policy should be put in place if or when it was needed. The new policies include a “waiting list policy” and a “holding timeframe policy.” What is bothersome, for those who qualify as needing home delivery, if the policy is put into effect, people could and would be denied. In the new written policy, elder services of Sheboygan County would place eligible applicants on a home delivery waiting list until funding would become available. The new policy does define “emergency exceptions” and “situations when applicants will remain to the top of the waiting lists.”

An important support for those who receive homebound meals is that volunteers who deliver the food, if a problem is noticed, can let the food site manager know of the situation so it can quickly be checked on. And, at least twice a year, senior food site managers visit the homebound to see if their needs have changed. It is a proactive approach that is intended to keep people healthy and safe. And, in the long run, save on overall health care costs.

Citizen input and involvement is important in any government program. If you have an interest in helping or volunteering in the meal program, or you or someone you know wants to find out more about the senior meal sites or homebound meals, you can contact the Aging and Disability Resource Center at (920) 459- 3095. Caring about the health of yourself and others is important.