How do I get Meals on Wheels?
You get Meals on Wheels by calling your local Area Agency on Aging, which arranges home-delivered meals for people 60 and older who have trouble shopping or cooking, and there is usually no income test because the program is funded under the Older Americans Act and asks only for a voluntary donation.
What this means
- An Area Agency on Aging is the local public office in charge of services for older adults in your county or region.
- Meals are usually delivered on weekdays, and many programs also run a congregate lunch at a senior center if you can get out.
- The driver checking on you is part of the service. Many programs will call a family member if nobody answers the door.
- Special diets, such as low-salt or diabetic meals, are available at many programs if you ask.
What to do first
- Call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 or use the Eldercare Locator website to find your Area Agency on Aging.
- Ask for a home-delivered meals assessment, which is usually a short phone or home visit.
- Ask what else the agency funds while you have them on the phone, such as rides, respite for a caregiver, or a bathroom grab bar.
Meals on Wheels and Your Area Agency on Aging
Hot meals delivered to the door, and one local office that knows every other program in your county.
National Family Caregiver Support Program
Respite, training, counseling, and sometimes small grants for the family member doing the caring.
What you'll need
- Usually nothing beyond a phone assessment
- Nothing in most places; some ask for proof of age and address
Deadlines and timing
- Some areas have a waiting list. Ask to be put on it, and ask whether a nearby nonprofit delivers in the meantime.
- The suggested donation is voluntary. You cannot be denied meals for not paying it.
Where to go
- Meals on Wheels and Your Area Agency on Aging: https://eldercare.acl.gov/Public/Index.aspx
- National Family Caregiver Support Program: https://eldercare.acl.gov/Public/Index.aspx
Reviewed by Jason Burns, Editorial Steward · Last verified August 25, 2026
Sources
- Eldercare Locator · Administration for Community Living
Need help today?
- Shut-off notice in hand: call the number on the bill and ask for a medical hold and a payment plan, then call 211.
- No food today: call 211 or the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 for a same-week food bank or meal.
- In danger: call 911, or reach Adult Protective Services through the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116.
Every program on this site is free to apply for. Anyone who asks you to pay to apply, or to “unlock” a government benefit, is a scam — hang up and call Senior Medicare Patrol or 211.
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