(Montreal) Meals on Wheels are facing many challenges due to the aging of the population and the current economic situation, underlines the Regroupement des meals on wheels du Québec.
Community organizations are in great demand, and meals on wheels are no exception to this trend.
“Since the pandemic, every year, we have observed an increase in requests,” says Karine Robinette, general director of the Regroupement des popotes Roulettes du Québec, which has 153 organizations. There are a total of 300 meals on wheels in the province.
The Regroupement helped 73,500 seniors, according to its annual report for 2022-2023.
“This year, there are more than 100,000 seniors,” continues M.me Robinette. We have organizations that unfortunately have to have waiting lists because the demand is so great. »
Meals on Wheels play an essential role in keeping seniors at home, says the general director. On the occasion of Quebec Meals on Wheels Week, which takes place from March 10 to 16, the organization has chosen the theme “Much more than meals!” Meals on Wheels: a community of support.” She wanted to highlight the work of all the people involved in Meals on Wheels, but also how home meal delivery helps a multitude of people.
“When we meet the needs of a senior, we often meet the needs of an entire family,” says M.me Robinette.
The increase in demand for Meals on Wheels is not explained solely by the rising cost of food, she indicates, emphasizing that even if the meals delivered by the organizations are offered at low prices, they are not free.
“It’s also the aging of the population. Every year, we feel that there are more and more people who need our services. There is really a situation, the demographics are changing, and the Meals on Wheels service is becoming more and more essential,” explains M.me Robinette.
She estimates that new service points will have to be opened in the coming years.
“It remains that there are certain regions or certain food deserts in terms of food security for seniors, in terms of home support, there are places where there is none,” she says. , saying that meals on wheels are also based on the needs of the population.
While seeing growing needs, Meals on Wheels must deal with recruiting volunteers which is proving more difficult.
The Regroupement perceives that the economic context has had an impact on volunteering. “It’s a reality that has lasted for several years and then becomes more and more worrying,” says M.me Robinette.
“There are more and more people who are retired who are returning to the job market to work a few hours, because of the economic situation. But these people, 10-15 years ago, these are all people who would have come to volunteer,” she explains.
“It reduces our pool of potential volunteers, we try to attract everyone,” she adds, particularly inviting students who have some free time to get involved in their local Meals on Wheels.
Nearly four million meals were delivered in 2023 thanks to meals on wheels, according to the Regroupement.