Meal Delivery Services for Healthy Seniors
Trial Summary
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.
What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment 'Meal Delivery Services for Healthy Seniors'?
Research shows that home-delivered meal services, like Meals on Wheels, can improve energy and protein intake and increase satisfaction among older adults. These services help maintain independence and improve nutritional status, especially when they include additional snacks or enriched foods.12345
Is it safe for seniors to participate in meal delivery services like Meals on Wheels?
Meal delivery services for seniors, such as Meals on Wheels, generally provide adequate nutrition, but some meals may have high sodium levels and may not always meet specific dietary needs like low fat or low cholesterol. It's important for participants to consider their personal dietary restrictions and consult with healthcare providers if needed.678910
How is the treatment of prepared meals unique for healthy seniors?
Prepared meals for healthy seniors are unique because they provide convenient, home-delivered nutrition that can help maintain a balanced diet, especially for those who may have difficulty preparing meals themselves. Unlike other treatments, this approach focuses on improving nutritional intake and supporting independent living by delivering meals directly to the home.411121314
What is the purpose of this trial?
This study will randomly assign 2,300 older adults on waiting lists at fourteen Meals on Wheels programs in Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Tennessee, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, and California into two groups who will receive: (a) daily delivery of meals, five days a week or (b) a shipment of 10 frozen meals, every two weeks. Researchers will examine participants' Medicare claims to understand if differences in healthcare utilization occur between the two groups within six months after they start receiving meals. Researchers will also ask participants questions prior to receiving meals, and again at three months, to understand how meals impact their ability to obtain food, their feelings of loneliness, and their overall quality of life. The primary study outcome will be the ratio of days spent in institutional settings (i.e., hospital, nursing home) in the six months after participants begin receiving meals. The secondary outcomes include the ratio of days spent in institutional settings in the three months after participants begin receiving meals, food insecurity, subjective isolation/loneliness, and health-related quality of life. The team will also examine differences in dietary intake between the two groups as an exploratory outcome.
Research Team
Kali S. Thomas, PhD
Principal Investigator
Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing
Kimberly P. Bernard, PhD
Principal Investigator
Brown University School of Public Health
Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for older adults aged 66 or above who are on waiting lists at certain Meals on Wheels programs and live within the program's daily service area. Participants must be able to take part in phone surveys/interviews and speak English or Spanish.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Treatment
Participants receive either daily home-delivered meals with wellness checks and socialization or frozen meals mailed every two weeks
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for healthcare utilization, food insecurity, loneliness, and quality of life
Treatment Details
Interventions
- Prepared Meals
- Wellness Check and Socialization
Prepared Meals is already approved in United States, Canada, European Union for the following indications:
- Nutritional support for older adults
- Food insecurity prevention
- Malnutrition prevention
- Nutritional support for seniors
- Social isolation prevention
- Nutritional support for elderly
- Health-related quality of life improvement
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Brown University
Lead Sponsor
Johns Hopkins University
Collaborator
Meals on Wheels America
Collaborator
Meals on Wheels America
Collaborator