Meals at Home: Delivering Food & Friendship

May 7, 2024 | Caregivers & Families, Sunset Service Lines

Meals a Home, a service offered by Sunset Senior Communities, delivers meals directly to seniors. Since the service began in 1997, we have expanded our delivery range to encompass parts of Hudsonville, Jenison, and Grandville. Our goal is to help those with physical limitations to live independently in the comfort of their own homes. Meals are prepared by our chefs right at Manor & Villages and delivered by local volunteers. At just $6 per meal, Meals at Home is a convenient way to ensure that you or a loved one are getting a hot and nutritious meal without the added stress of needing to cook. One of our long-time meal delivery recipients, Carol Fletcher, is a huge advocate for the program. Though Carol is no longer part of Meals at Home because she recently moved into Manor & Villages, she would like to share her experience over the five years she received meals. 

When It All Started

We signed up for Meals at Home in 2019. I was my husband’s primary caregiver, and these meals were perfect for us, because they provided a healthy, well-balanced meal that I did not have to spend time preparing. My husband was eventually put on a feeding tube, and I continued receiving these meals for a couple of reasons. The first being that it was difficult for my husband to smell food being cooked in our kitchen, knowing that he could not partake. And the second being that I had cooked for my family for so many years, that I found it hard to cook for only one person. I knew that as a caregiver I needed to remain healthy and a huge part of overall health is diet, so Meals at Home was essential.

Favorite Meals

I loved the desserts! Being a caregiver is a full-time job, so I always looked forward to having that little treat at the end of a long day. Fun Fact: Most other meal delivery services do not offer freshly baked desserts!

The Delivery Drivers

Part of what makes Meals at Home stand out is their volunteer drivers. I always appreciated them. They were so kind and friendly. It never seemed like they were “just delivering a meal.” We often had great conversations that would make my day.

Moving to Sunset

I always knew that I wanted to move into Manor & Villages. The campus already felt like home, because I had been attending their pool classes for my arthritis and two of my aunts had lived there. We even had some church friends who lived there. Being blessed by Meals at Home just made me that much more excited to make the move!

Advice

My advice for someone looking for a meal delivery service is to just sign up! Meals at Home is so convenient, especially when you’re unable to fix your own food. Sometimes just standing in the kitchen can be a chore and Meals at Home provides nutritious meals without the hassle of needing to make a trip to the grocery store and then come home and cook. And with the prices of groceries, $6 for a full meal cannot be beat. Emma, the Meals at Home Coordinator, was super helpful with answering any questions I had or when I needed to adjust or cancel a meal.  

If you or a loved one is interested in more information about our Meals at Home program, please reach out on our website or call 616.457.7777.