The summer season brings heat waves and thunderstorms, prompting us to scurry inside to the air conditioning when we get home from work, school and outdoor activities. We head for cover and check on those around us. We at Meals on Wheels of Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky encourage you to do one more thing, right after closing your windows when it rains or adjusting your air conditioner when temperatures rise: check on your older neighbors.

Summers in our region can be relentless. Many of us rely on our everyday spaces like our workplace or vehicle to offer respite. If we don’t have it, we’re often not far from reaching it. Yet for older adults, the season can hit especially hard when it’s compounded by other obstacles.

Our aging neighbors often face unique challenges that prevent them from interacting with others or leaving their homes. They may live alone, have limited mobility due to a health condition or have inadequate access to transportation. This isolation can be dangerous. It too easily creates a barrier to information about available resources and assistance, particularly during severe weather. 

At Meals on Wheels, engaging with our older community members is at the core of our mission. Our weekly meal deliveries come with a wellness check for each senior, with extra time built into the route so that the driver can touch base. It is not just a drop-off—it is a valuable point of connection. Our drivers are a listening ear and trustworthy voice. They have identified seniors without a fan or air conditioning unit for the summer months, heating assistance in the wintertime, a microwave to heat up meals and more. If additional assistance is needed, Meals on Wheels connects them to a network of more resources. 

We are driven to promote seniors’ independence and well-being, but we cannot do it alone.

Doing your own wellness check with your older neighbor can start simply: ask how they are doing. Is there something you can do to make your older neighbor’s life a little easier today, such as bringing in the garden hose, taking out the garbage, lifting something heavy or offering to sit down and have a chat? 

Just making it known that you are nearby can provide comfort and open the door to connecting them with helpful resources. Other questions to consider asking:

  • Is their air conditioning working and/or do they have a fan?
  • Are their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors working?
  • Do they need assistance with yard work?
  • Do they have an emergency plan in the event of a flood, fire or tornado?
  • Do they have resources on hand if the power goes out, affecting their food and electricity?

If a need arises, provide them with the contact info for the Aging and Disability Resource Center of the Northern Kentucky Area Development District. Their phone number is 859-283-1885.

Thousands of our older community members rely on Meals on Wheels to provide nutrition, connection and protection when they need it most. We are here, but it takes a village to help our community age in place. 

Start simple. Check on your older neighbors.