Search results for ‘Subject term:"meal services"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 2 of 2
Doomed to extinction? The nature and future of volunteering for meals-on-wheels services
- Authors:
- O'DWYER Ciara, TIMONEN Virpi
- Journal article citation:
- Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, 20(1), March 2009, pp.35-49.
- Publisher:
- Springer
- Place of publication:
- New York
Based on interviews with voluntary and paid meals-on-wheels coordinators and staff carried out in Ireland in early 2007, this article examines: (1) the recruitment and retention of volunteers; (2) motivations for volunteering; (3) the nature of the contributions of volunteers; and, (4) the future role of volunteering within the service. The article argues that volunteerism in meals provision for older adults in Ireland is in crisis. The recruitment and retention of volunteers may be improved if service providers gain a better understanding of the motivations of volunteers and develop strategies to ensure that volunteers have an opportunity to engage in work that corresponds to their original motivations, which includes enhancing the social capital of their communities.
The future for meals on wheels? Reviewing innovative approaches to meal provision for ageing populations
- Authors:
- WINTERTON Rachel, WARBUNTON Jeni, OPPENHEIMER Melanie
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Social Welfare, 22(2), 2013, pp.141-151.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The global phenomenon of population ageing is impacting on how community care is delivered, and a key component of health and social care services for the frail elderly is Meals on Wheels (MOW), a service that has traditionally encompassed delivering meals to older people in their homes. However, aspects of this conceptualisation of MOW are being redefined in order to address challenges posed by tightening global financial contexts, a reliance on volunteers and increasing social isolation among ageing populations. Through a review of the literature and websites from selected countries (UK, USA, Canada, Australia), this article explores and critically evaluates models of MOW delivery addressing these challenges. Findings suggest that MOW services are utilising a marketised approach, moving outside of the home and incorporating diverse volunteer roles. These findings demonstrate how services such as MOW can develop sustainable approaches to service delivery in a contemporary context. (Publisher abstract)