Program’s costs, support examined

By Robert Cloud

Waupaca County is reviewing its senior nutrition program as it prepares its 2020 budget.

Part of the review includes an online survey.

The Department of Health and Human Services has two ways of providing meals for the elderly.

Six sites offer meals Monday through Friday in Waupaca, Clintonville, Iola, Manawa, Marion and New London. Weyauwega serves meals on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

The county also delivers meals countywide.

To be eligible for either a congregate dining or home delivery, a participant must be at least 60 years old, married to someone who is at least 60 or a younger adult with a disability who lives with an eligible participant.

Participants are asked, but not required, to donate to the program when they have a meal.

Although the suggested donation is $4.25, the average donation is $2.90 for an onsite meal and $1.80 for home delivery.

In 2018, DHHS served 21,394 onsite meals to 517 individuals at an average cost of $10.72 per meal.

Communities ranged from 33 to 148 participants annually.

The onsite program in 2018 was supported by $116,701 in federal and state funding, $62,048 in donations and $50,522 in county funding.

DHHS delivered 49,066 meals to 397 individuals last year at an average cost of $8.24 per meal.

The home-delivery program was supported in 2018 by $133,292 in federal and state revenues, $72,838 in donations, $80,167 in Long-Term Care revenue and $118,072 in county funding.

According to DHHS, participation in the onsite program decreased by 9,000 meals over the last five years, while participation in home delivery increased by 5,500.

While the total number of seniors the county feeds over the past five years dropped by 5 percent, the impact on the county’s budget rose by 90 percent.

To maintain its current level of service, Waupaca County must spend an additional $87,000 of unbudgeted local tax dollars.

Online survey
To help determine the future of the program, Waupaca County is conducting an online survey with six questions.

• Have you or a loved one eaten at a senior congregate dining site?

• If yes, which site?

• Do you or a loved one have an interest in eating at a senior congregate dining site?

• If yes, which site?

• Have you or a loved one received home delivered meals?

• Do you or a loved one have a future interest in the Home Delivered Meal Program?

Go to www.surveymonkey.com/r/JP8GMXR to answer the survey or email answers to [email protected]