For 20 years, WesleyLife Meals on Wheels has helped older adults and military veterans across central Iowa access nutritious meals, meaningful connection, and the support they need to continue living independently.
As needs and routines have changed, the program has continued to evolve. In an enhancement announced last year, WesleyLife’s ready-to-heat meal delivery service now offers a flexible option for older adults, military veterans, caregivers, and people returning home after a hospital or rehabilitation stay.
The service provides weekly deliveries of chef-prepared, nutrition-guided meals that are easy to store, simple to heat, and ready whenever they are needed. Vegetarian, low-sodium, and consistent-carbohydrate entrées allow clients to select meals that align with their needs and preferences.
For clients like Marie*, knowing good meals are available in the freezer is especially meaningful on days when preparing food feels difficult.
“My daughter arranged the meals for me. Some days, I’m well enough to cook for myself, but other days, I’m not,” Marie, who lives in Des Moines and is undergoing cancer treatment, says. “On those days, having the meals in my freezer is a godsend. They taste good, too — even when my appetite isn’t so great.”
For an older adult who no longer wants to cook every day, a caregiver making sure a loved one is eating well, or someone recovering at home, reliable access to nutritious meals can make daily life more manageable.
Helping people transition safely home
Ready-to-heat meals also provide a practical resource for social workers, care coordinators, and discharge planners at hospitals and short-term rehabilitation centers.
Meals can be purchased and sent home with individuals upon discharge, helping ensure they have convenient, well-balanced options during their first week or two at home, a time when grocery shopping and meal preparation may be especially difficult.
“This isn’t just about food; it’s about independence and well-being,” Shannon Draayer, executive director of community nutrition for WesleyLife, says. “Whether you’re an older adult looking to simplify your routine or a healthcare provider helping someone transition safely home, our ready-to-heat meals offer a trusted, easy-to-implement solution.”
Flexible support for different needs
The ready-to-heat option complements WesleyLife’s longstanding daily hot meal service, which includes a friendly well-being check with each delivery.
Together, the services give older Iowans more choices in how they receive the nourishment and support they need, whether that means a warm meal and a familiar face each day or a week’s worth of meals available when they need them.
WesleyLife Meals on Wheels' ready-to-heat meal service includes:
- Weekly delivery of five- or seven-meal packages
- Vegetarian, low-sodium, and consistent-carbohydrate options
- No long-term commitment
- Delivery throughout Polk, Dallas, and Warren counties
- Options for individuals, caregivers, hospitals, and rehabilitation providers
To learn more, begin service, or discuss a referral partnership, call (515) 699-3240 or visit Meals on Wheels. To help provide meals for an older adult or military veteran in central Iowa, visit WesleyLife Foundation. A gift of $50 can cover weekday meals for one recipient!
*Names and identifying information have been changed.
