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‘It is nice to see someone coming in’: Exploring the Social Objectives of Meals-on-Wheels*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 August 2010

Virpi Timonen  and
Ciara O’Dwyer
Virpi Timonen*
Affiliation:
Trinity College Dublin
Ciara O’Dwyer
Affiliation:
Trinity College Dublin
*
†Correspondence and requests for offprints should be sent to / La correspondance et les demandes de tirés-à-part doivent être adressées à: Virpi Timonen, D.Phil. Director Social Policy and Ageing Research Centre, School of Social Work and Social Policy, Arts Building, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland (timonenv@tcd.ie)
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Abstract

Despite the fact that Meals-on-Wheels have both nutritional and social aspects, research on the social objectives of the service is lacking. This study set out to develop an understanding of the social objectives of Meals-on-Wheels and to explore the extent to which they are met by Ireland’s Meals-on-Wheels services. A literature review suggested that Meals-on-Wheels services can potentially meet three social objectives: (a) providing meals recipients with social contact, (b) helping to restimulate an interest in meals and regularising mealtimes, and (c) helping to develop acceptance of the service. Interviews were conducted with 66 meals recipients to explore these themes and augment them as necessary. Study results show that meals recipients derive limited social contact from the service; regularising mealtimes was not important to most recipients; and many were reluctant to accept the service. The three objectives are therefore minimally met within the Irish system at present.

Résumé

Malgré le fait que La Popote roulante a des aspects nutritionnels et sociales, il y a un manque de recherche sur les objectifs sociaux de ce service. Cette étude a pour but de développer une compréhension des objectifs sociaux du programme et d’explorer l’étendue à laquelle ils sont remplis par La Popote roulante en Irlande. Un examen de la littérature a suggéré que potentiellement le service peut répondre à trois objectifs sociaux : (a) offrant des repas aux destinataires avec contact social, (b) aidant à revigorer un intérêt dans les repas en les faisant plus réguliers et (c) aidant à développer l’acceptation du service. Des entrevues ont été menées avec 66 destinataires de repas à explorer ces thèmes et les augmenter si nécessaire. Les résultats de l’étude montrent que les destinataires des repas dérivent du service un contact social limité; que les heures des repas bien reglées n’étaient pas important pour la plupart des destinataires; et même que beaucoup étaient peu disposés à accepter le service.

Keywords

La Popote roulantepersonnes plus âgéesnourriturecontact socialutilisation du servicestigmates (pl.)Meals on Wheelsolder peoplefoodsocial contactservice usestigma
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 29 , Issue 3 , September 2010 , pp. 399 - 410
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2010

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Footnotes

*

We thankfully acknowledge the funding received from the National Council on Ageing and Older People (NCAOP) of Ireland and the advice of Council staff and members of the Consultative Committee. We are also grateful for the opportunity to present and receive comments on an early version of this paper at the European Sociological Association conference in Glasgow.

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