LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville Metro’s Senior Nutrition services, including Meals on Wheels, is suspended through Wednesday, Jan 8., 2025.

What You Need To Know

  • Louisville's Meals on Wheels program and other senior nutrition services were paused Jan.6-8, 2025 

  • The services were suspended because of hazardous roads

  •  The Meals on Wheels team will make deliveries Wednesdsay for seniors who expressed a need

  • In a normal week, Meals on Wheels serves 7,000 meals

Meals on Wheels normally makes daily deliveries to seniors.

“This may be their only resource to ensure that they have, you know, a nutritious meal,” said Patricia Williams, director of Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services.

But icy roads are making for treacherous travel, so Meals on Wheels is not making home deliveries Monday through Wednesday this week.

“Some of the side streets may be still a little bit iffy and whether or not, driveways are, you know, walkways are shoveled for them to be able to get to a person’s door,” she said.

The Meals on Wheels team has been checking in its seniors over the phone. Williams said many are relying on shelf stable meals they provide every year in case of emergencies.

“We haven’t had a ton of weather emergencies in the past few years. So, this is the first time these have really had to be used in a while, but I think it’s very much a resource that seniors appreciate,” Williams said.

Seniors are vulnerable during extreme weather the National Council on Aging said, because of issues that arise with age.

“They’re more susceptible to weather related conditions, such as, hypothermia, frostbite, they’re more susceptible to heart attacks caused by physical exertion of trying to balance on ice or even shoveling snow,” said Ryan Ramsey, associate director of health coverage and benefits for the National Council on Aging.

Ramsey recommended you check in on the aging population that is in your life.

“It’s good to just reach out to your family members or your neighbors. Just check in, make sure are they doing okay,” Ramsey said.

On Wednesday, Meals on Wheels will do just that. Some of their seniors have expressed a need for help before Thursday, so volunteers will serve them tomorrow.

“So, I’m sure some of them are really missing the last couple of days of not seeing a person. So, we look forward to getting back out into the community tomorrow,” Williams said.

In a normal week, Meals on Wheels serves 7,000 plates between its congregate meal sites and home deliveries.

Williams said Meals on Wheels always need more volunteers. Anyone interested can sign up online.

 

Related Stories