Home Meal Delivery and Grocery Shopping Services

The Dutchess County Office For The Aging prepares hot meals which are delivered to homebound older adults five days a week (Mon-Fri). The Home Delivered Meals Program allows older adults to remain in their homes and also provides them with daily socialization with the delivery person. Home visit assessments are made by personnel from the Nutrition Program to determine each person's eligibility. The Office for the Aging’s Home Delivered Meals program operates five days a week (Monday - Friday).  

Frozen and/or shelf-stable meals are also available when circumstances warrant, including in event of official holidays and/or inclement weather.

For more information, call 845-486-2555 or email ofa@dutchessny.gov.

Eligibility Criteria for Home Delivered Meals

To be eligible for Home Delivered Meals, an individual must meet the following guidelines:
 

1. Age 60 or over
2. Homebound (Only leaves the home for doctor/hospital/clinic visits, religious services and occasional outings)
3. Incapacitated due to accident, illness or frailty. 
4. Unable to prepare meals due to:
   a) Lack of facilities such as refrigeration, stove, etc.
   b) Inability to shop or cook for self
   c) Inability to safely prepare meals
   d) Lack of knowledge and skill
5. Without support from family, friends and neighbors.
   
   OR the spouse of the homebound older individual, regardless of age or condition, who meets the above criteria that the provision of a meal to the spouse is in the best interest of the homebound person.

Before meals can be started, Office for the Aging staff must conduct an in-home needs assessment. If the individual client meets these criteria, arrangements can be made for a short-term (6 to 8 weeks) or long-term program.

Volunteer As An OFA Home Delivered Meals Driver

Volunteers deliver meals to homebound older adults countywide every weekday, and also serve as a second set of eyes to check on clients' well-being. We can work with your schedule, and mileage is reimbursed for HDM drivers using their personal vehicles to make deliveries. To learn more about volunteering as an HDM driver, email ofa@dutchessny.gov or call 845-486-2544. 

Click here for a printable volunteer application (.pdf)