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HockeyMom

(14,337 posts)
Fri Apr 26, 2013, 04:28 PM Apr 2013

Cutting Meals on Wheels?

My Mom got Meals on Wheels. She lived on a very small pension from my deceased Dad, and Social Security. She lived in a Manhattan apartment where I grew up. Because of her illness and age, she had a lot of trouble WALKING; going to the store, and bringing back groceries. She could not stand up for very long to let alone shop for groceries, but even to cook a decent meal.

I lived 50 miles away and had small children at the time, so I could not drive in to help her on a daily basis. We asked her if she wanted to come live with us, but that got an empathic NO. She wanted to live in her own home for as long as she possibly could. I never even mentioned a Nursing Home. Not only would there be no money for that, she did not need round the clock medical care.

Mom got Meals on Wheels which helped her to keep living in her own home. What she couldn't finish for dinner, she would save and eat for lunch or dinners when the service was unavailable. If this was not available, I could see her eating PBJ sandwiches, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, because that would be about all that she could "cook".


While I have sympathy for airline travelers being delayed for the furlough of air traffic controllers, and I understand that this is an accident waiting to happen also, how many of the sick and elderly will starve, and possibly die, because they cannot afford, financially or physically, to buy and cook their own meals? Meals on Wheels, despite what some may say, is a hell of a lot cheaper than a NURSING HOME.

Pitiful that it is always the most vulnerable of our society that gets hurt the most.

28 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Cutting Meals on Wheels? (Original Post) HockeyMom Apr 2013 OP
rec! SammyWinstonJack Apr 2013 #1
They always go after the vulnerable in our society, because they often have no voice and are RKP5637 Apr 2013 #2
sorry bout that, gotta pay for the military's killers on wheels nt msongs Apr 2013 #3
And, there's the $200 million being sent to Jordan to help defray the cost bike man Apr 2013 #15
I think cutting the Meals on Wheels benefit and then allowing it to stand Cleita Apr 2013 #4
I don't think you meant that your Mom lived on a pension from your "diseased" Dad. bvar22 Apr 2013 #5
Well said. Thank you. we can do it Apr 2013 #6
Similar story here DeeDeeNY Apr 2013 #7
kn r Douglas Carpenter Apr 2013 #8
We're cutting programs like this, and our neighbors to the south keep expanding theirs... Lobo27 Apr 2013 #9
Cutting Meals on Wheels ...to fight terrorism ...oh uhm ...erm ...terrorism? L0oniX Apr 2013 #10
Shhhhh..... Hulk Apr 2013 #11
It's time to demand restoring meals on wheels Stewland Apr 2013 #12
This is one of the most cruel amoral things our 'leaders' have ever done azurnoir Apr 2013 #13
Bah Humbug nightscanner59 Apr 2013 #14
I know right? BethanyQuartz Apr 2013 #18
Yes, they are cutting those funds. madfloridian Apr 2013 #16
A Democrat proposed that budget. Fearless Apr 2013 #17
This Is Beyond Awful grilled onions Apr 2013 #19
That is very true HockeyMom Apr 2013 #21
+10.000 smirkymonkey Apr 2013 #28
I did a search for a petition. Did not find one for US. Downwinder Apr 2013 #20
Betty Crocker is making a (killing) profit from this because they are now glinda Apr 2013 #22
We will take our solace in knowing that our "representatives" won't be "inconvenienced". Buns_of_Fire Apr 2013 #23
I guess the Kochs of the world need their extra yachts more than sick/elderly need food. IrishAyes Apr 2013 #24
Foolish question, but is the Congressional Downwinder Apr 2013 #25
Already wrote an irate letter to my Congressman Lifelong Protester Apr 2013 #26
Remember! Bonobo Apr 2013 #27

RKP5637

(67,032 posts)
2. They always go after the vulnerable in our society, because they often have no voice and are
Fri Apr 26, 2013, 04:36 PM
Apr 2013

too removed to even have one ... kids, the elderly, disabled, sick ... and the poor. They are the ones neglected and run over, because they know others will kick their asses, so they get a free pass.

 

bike man

(620 posts)
15. And, there's the $200 million being sent to Jordan to help defray the cost
Fri Apr 26, 2013, 07:18 PM
Apr 2013

of Syrian refugees http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022556024

There's money for that, but no help for the frail, elderly, or infirm.

Cleita

(75,480 posts)
4. I think cutting the Meals on Wheels benefit and then allowing it to stand
Fri Apr 26, 2013, 04:37 PM
Apr 2013

is one of the cruelest things our so-called leaders in Washington have done. The only reason they changed the ATC cuts is because it inconvenienced them. They didn't do it so ATC workers could have a paycheck, or any other noble reason. It was pure self-interest and only hitting them there in the self-interest, will get them to change anything that might benefit the rest of us. We have to hit the streets, do a general strike and whatever else it takes to light a bonfire under them.

bvar22

(39,909 posts)
5. I don't think you meant that your Mom lived on a pension from your "diseased" Dad.
Fri Apr 26, 2013, 04:52 PM
Apr 2013

...probably meant "deceased" Dad.

It is Obscene and Immoral that Congress would meet and quickly restore the FAA controllers
so that the RICH won't be even slightly inconvenienced,
and so callously turn their backs on those who really need the help.


If there is a hell, you know who is going there.

DeeDeeNY

(3,352 posts)
7. Similar story here
Fri Apr 26, 2013, 05:27 PM
Apr 2013

My parents were in their 90's living in their own apartment in Queens and we were out in Suffolk County. The Meals on Wheels program was a lifesaver for them.

 

L0oniX

(31,493 posts)
10. Cutting Meals on Wheels ...to fight terrorism ...oh uhm ...erm ...terrorism?
Fri Apr 26, 2013, 05:34 PM
Apr 2013

...terrorizing the elderly?

 

Hulk

(6,699 posts)
11. Shhhhh.....
Fri Apr 26, 2013, 06:48 PM
Apr 2013

The elderly and homeless don't have internet service, so they don't count. We'll let them die in the streets. But hey, we'll get those extra air traffic controllers up RIGHT AWAY for the fliers. Nation of sad shit morons.

 

Stewland

(163 posts)
12. It's time to demand restoring meals on wheels
Fri Apr 26, 2013, 06:51 PM
Apr 2013

These elected officials who tell you they are Christians and vote to undermine the well being of so many vulnerable people are not really Christian in their actions. It's time to,call these Hypocrits out.

azurnoir

(45,850 posts)
13. This is one of the most cruel amoral things our 'leaders' have ever done
Fri Apr 26, 2013, 06:56 PM
Apr 2013

and why, how much was it really costing, would it have broken the bank to make sure our elderly are being cared for?

 

BethanyQuartz

(193 posts)
18. I know right?
Fri Apr 26, 2013, 07:29 PM
Apr 2013

That would take care of the problem for the elderly who lost meals on wheels and for the kids who lost headstart and wasn't section 8 housing cut in the austerity measures (oops I mean that rascally sequester) too? Round them all up and get them tied to various machinery and our economy will boom again.

madfloridian

(88,117 posts)
16. Yes, they are cutting those funds.
Fri Apr 26, 2013, 07:18 PM
Apr 2013

When I posted about it weeks ago, some said I was attacking Obama, some blamed the seniors.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022628227

They are also cutting Medicare funds without our realizing it. Not long ago, the co-pay for each event in the hospital was around 150. Now Blue Medicare asks 150 a DAY for the first 7 days as co-pay. You have to read the small print or get surprised.

Fearless

(18,421 posts)
17. A Democrat proposed that budget.
Fri Apr 26, 2013, 07:23 PM
Apr 2013

Fun times.

I remember when our party used to stand up for basic human dignity.

grilled onions

(1,957 posts)
19. This Is Beyond Awful
Fri Apr 26, 2013, 07:30 PM
Apr 2013

I have a very soft spot for all those seniors out there who may be mi;d;y confused or sharp as a tack. They deserve so much more than they are given today. After contributing to our society for a half decade plus they are now considered less important then anything from war supplies to allowing the ultra rich to pay next to nothing in taxes.
But many of us may need such a service as Meals On Wheels one day. If not for my spouse I would already be in that PBJ menu because I cannot stand,walk,lift etc. They have no concept how difficult it is to not be able to do for themselves. But Meals on Wheels often does more. By delivering meals they also are checking on the well being of those lovely people. It is often the only communication they get even when they may live in an apt complex containing many single apartments.
I wish I had the money to boost this program. I wish I had the power to stop the typical programs they think are too worthy to cut--like war toys!

 

HockeyMom

(14,337 posts)
21. That is very true
Fri Apr 26, 2013, 07:44 PM
Apr 2013

One of the women who brought Mom her meals would on her own time call her on the phone just to check how she was doing. This woman would also stop by to visit her just to chat and giver her companionship so Mom would not be alone. Most people don't realize this that these workers CARE about the Seniors they are feeding, and many times will go beyond just delivering meals to them.

Downwinder

(12,869 posts)
20. I did a search for a petition. Did not find one for US.
Fri Apr 26, 2013, 07:43 PM
Apr 2013

Appears that this is a standard piece of Austerity, being cut in England too.

glinda

(14,807 posts)
22. Betty Crocker is making a (killing) profit from this because they are now
Fri Apr 26, 2013, 08:15 PM
Apr 2013

advertising bringing meals to your home but the caveat is you have to order several of them and then if you drop dead during that week, no one will know. At least Meals On Wheels visits everyday and notes when something is wrong.

Buns_of_Fire

(17,119 posts)
23. We will take our solace in knowing that our "representatives" won't be "inconvenienced".
Fri Apr 26, 2013, 08:40 PM
Apr 2013

"Never in history have so many owed so little to so few." That's not quite what Churchill said, but it fits today.

I hope every one of them who voted for this suffers from uncontrollable flatulence all the way back to their districts.

Lifelong Protester

(8,421 posts)
26. Already wrote an irate letter to my Congressman
Fri Apr 26, 2013, 11:51 PM
Apr 2013

He's a dem who voted "aye" on making sure the flight delays are taken care of.

I asked how he could be more worried about members of Congress and their corporate "sponsors" being inconvenience, and not worry about seniors getting Meals on Wheels or kids being kicked off Head Start.

I be they are all patting themselves on the back about what a great thing they've done to alleviate runway suffering, without at all understanding that they come across as shallow and clueless. As well as coming across as obsequious servants of the 1%.

Bonobo

(29,257 posts)
27. Remember!
Fri Apr 26, 2013, 11:53 PM
Apr 2013

Being cynical does not make one a Progressive! I learned that on DU today!

Dreaming of your pie in the sky is just "holier than thou" talk. Not actually Progressive, but in fact Regressive!

Incremental change! Yeah, that's the ticket!!

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