April Newsletter

March Member Regional Meeting Recap

Interested in serving on the 2021-2022 Meals on Wheels Texas Board?

Statewide Network Member Interest Survey

As you all may know, Meals on Wheels Texas is creating a statewide network of local home delivered meal providers that can serve unserved areas of the state and participate in contracts with managed care organizations and hospital districts, providing the highest quality meal possible. MOWT is now in the process of identifying organizations who might be interested in participating in this network.

This survey is expected to take 10 minutes to complete. You will be asked a series of questions about your delivery options, referral and intake response times, and resources needed to expand delivery outside of current services areas. A copy of the survey can be found here so that you can review and find the best person in your organization to answer these questions. Please respond based on your pre-COVID operations. If you expect services to significantly change, then respond with your expected post-COVID operations.

Take the Survey NOW!

Thank you and please contact info@mealsonwheelstexas.org if you have any questions.
 

Survey: COVID-19 Impact

At the start of the pandemic, Meals on Wheels Texas sent a survey to collect information on how client numbers, meal numbers, and meal costs had changed due to COVID. This survey is intended to update that information with data from the last quarter of 2020. Please complete this survey even if you did not complete the previous survey. This information will be used to help MOWT and MOWAT provide updated information to legislators during the 87th Legislative session.  

To complete this survey, you will need information on number of clients, number of meals, and cost per meal for both home-delivered and congregate meals for October, November, and December 2020.  You will also need information on pre-COVID and current waitlist numbers. To see a PDF of the survey, click here. We expect it will take approximately 10 minutes to complete this survey. Thank you so much for your input!

Start the survey at this link here.
 

Meals on Wheels Texas Newsletter Sign Up for Additional Staff

Each year, we update our email contact list. If you have additional staff who you would like to receive this monthly newsletter and other email communications, please share their contact information with us through this form.

Save Our Seniors Update

Each week, the Governor's Office announces new participating counties in the Save Our Seniors initiative to vaccinate homebound seniors across Texas. We will continue to update our members through Mobilize with new counties as they are posted. To find your Assistant Emergency Management Chief, visit the regions section of the TDEM website.

Save The Date: Meals on Wheels Texas Virtual Conference in June 22-24, 2021

Join us at our 2021 Virtual Conference each afternoon from June 22-24. Look for details and information in your inbox very soon!

To stay up-to-date on all of Meals on Wheels Texas and Meals on Wheels Association of Texas hosted events, be sure to check out the events page on the website.

Resources
 

The American Rescue Plan Act

Learn more about the latest COVID-19 relief package and how it impacts State and Local Aid in this National Conference of State Legislatures article.

PPP Loan Update for 2020 990 Filing

Administration for Community Living:

Covid-19 Resources

ACL Shares New Materials for Older Americans Month

"Older adults have built resilience and strength over their lives through successes, failures, joys, and difficulties. Their stories and contributions help to support and inspire others. This OAM, we will celebrate the strength of older adults and the Aging Network, with special emphasis on the power of connection and engagement in building strong communities.

Have you visited the Older Americans Month website recently? We've updated it with even more materials to help you celebrate the strength of your community this May!

Activity Ideas

Looking for ways to safely connect and engage with members of your community this Older Americans Month? Check out the Activity Ideas page for inspiration, event planning tips, and more."

Other News

The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is excited about the upcoming 2022 Texans Feeding Texans Home Delivered Meals Grant (HDM) year. Even though the current year just started, TDA is already making plans for the upcoming year application process. Here are a few updates:

County Grant: 2020 census data will be published soon. The county grant is based on the county seniors as reported by the census. So that means the resolutions and amounts for the 2022 grant will be based on the new census data. If you plan on your resolutions done early, it is please be mindful that the minimum amounts per county are going to change. Once the census data is published, TDA will post a new table to the HDM web page: https://texasagriculture.gov/GrantsServices/TradeandBusinessDevelopment/HomeDeliveredMealsGrantProgram.aspx

2022 Grant application: TDA is moving to an online grant application system called TDA-GO to submit the 2022 application materials and will no longer accept emailed or mailed applications. The roll out of the new system is anticipated in Early July. There will be plenty of instruction documents and tutorial videos to help you.
 

AARP Update: Stimulus Payments for Recipients of Social Security and Other Benefits

HHS Seeking Feedback on the Needs of Older Texans

HHS is seeking feedback from older adults, caregivers, and aging services providers to inform the 2022-2023 Aging Texas Well Strategic Plan, the state's plan for understanding and addressing the needs of older Texans.

Eligible survey participants include:

• Adults ages 50 and older

• People providing care to an older adult (50+)

• Organizations that provide services to older adults (50+).

The survey takes about 10-15 minutes to complete and will remain open until 11:59 p.m. on May 1, 2021. You are encouraged to share this information with anyone who may be interested. Click here to take the survey https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/IdentifyingTXAgingPriorities

For questions, email AgeWellLiveWell@hhs.texas.gov
 

Administration for Community Living: Partnership with the CDC to Increase Access to Covid-19 Vaccines for Older Adults and People with Disabilities

CDC and ACL will provide nearly $100 million in grants to help older adults and people with disabilities get vaccines

President Biden has announced several actions to expand access to COVID-19 vaccines, including an exciting partnership between ACL and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to increase vaccine access for people with disabilities and older adults.

Because they are significantly more likely to have a severe illness, be hospitalized, or die from COVID-19, vaccination is critical for older adults and many people with disabilities. However, even if they meet their state’s criteria to receive the vaccine, many face significant barriers to getting vaccinated. With funding from CDC, ACL will issue nearly $100 million in grants to the aging and disability networks to provide critical services to help overcome those barriers.

Throughout the pandemic, ACL has advocated alongside the aging and disability networks and advocates, and with partners across HHS and the federal government, to ensure equal access to care for older adults and people with disabilities. We are excited to partner with CDC to make vaccines equally accessible, as well. 

Background:  Vaccine Barriers for Older Adults and People with Disabilities

Older adults are more likely to have a severe illness, be hospitalized, or die from COVID-19; adults 65 and older account for 8 out of every 10 COVID-19 related deaths. People with disabilities also often are at increased risk; in fact, a recent study found that intellectual disability is the greatest risk factor after age. Many people with disabilities have additional conditions that are associated with severe illness due to COVID-19, and many others are at increased risk because they live in group settings, require close contact with direct service providers who help with activities of daily living, and/or have difficulty complying with mitigation protocols.

Although vaccination is particularly important for these populations, many people with disabilities and older adults have difficulty:

1. Finding information about their eligibility and where to go for the vaccine. Approximately one in four older adults does not have a computer or internet service to find information about how to get vaccinated and how to schedule appointments. Many live alone and do not have family who can help them.  

2. Scheduling appointments.

3. Obtaining accessible transportation.

4. Navigating mass vaccination sites.

In addition, about one in five older adults and many people with disabilities may be unable to easily leave their homes and require either in-home vaccination or other specialized arrangements to receive the vaccine.
 

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): Older Adults Home Modification Grant Program

Application deadline: May 4, 2021

View details and instructions on Grants.gov

HUD’s Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes has announced $30 million in grant funds and training resources to non-federal entities to establish the Older Adults Home Modification Grant Program. The grant program will assist experienced nonprofits, state and local governments, and public housing authorities in programs that make home modifications and limited repairs to meet the needs of low-income older adult homeowners.

The goal of the program is to help these homeowners "age in place" through low-cost, low barrier, high impact home modifications that:

1. Reduce the risk of falls.

2. Improve general safety.

3. Increase accessibility.

4. Improve older adults' functional abilities in their homes.

Happy Spring!