A qualitative study of the role of meals-on-wheels delivery drivers and their potential for recognising elderly clients at risk of poor nutritional status

Malnutrition among the community-dwelling elderly population is frequently under-recognised. In particular, recipients of meals-on-wheels (MOW) are more likely to have poor nutritional status(1). MOW provides hot meals to those in need and may also have a role of increasing social contact, stimulating a renewed interest in food and regularising meal times(2). Whilst MOW delivery drivers receive little or no training to recognise malnutrition, due to their daily visits and a relationship with clients built on the provision of food, an extension of their role to recognise and report the poor nutritional status of their clients may be feasible. This study aims to explore the current role of MOW delivery drivers and their potential to identify clients at risk of malnutrition.