This study evaluated the influence that expanding a home-delivered meals service to include breakfast and lunch would have on the nutritional status and quality of life of at-risk older adults.

This cross-sectional field study compared two groups. The breakfast group (n=167) received a home-delivered breakfast and lunch, 5 days per week. The comparison group (n=214) received a home-delivered lunch 5 days per week. Participants’ 24-hour food recall, demographics, malnutrition risk, functional status, and surveys of quality of life as health, loneliness, food enjoyment, food security, and depression were obtained.

Study participants were recruited from five Elderly Nutrition Programs involved in the Morning Meals on Wheels breakfast service demonstration project. They formed a geographically and racially/ethnically diverse sample. Participants ranged in age from 60 to 100 years, were functionally limited, and at high nutritional risk. Most were low income, lived alone, and had difficulty shopping or preparing food.

Descriptive statistics were used to assess group comparability. Independent sample t tests were used to examine group differences, with Bonferroni’s method used to control for familywise Type I error.

Breakfast group participants had greater energy/nutrient intakes (P<.05), greater levels of food security (P<.05), and fewer depressive symptoms (P<.05) than comparison group participants.

The addition of a breakfast service to traditional home-delivered meals services can improve the lives of frail, homebound older adults. Agencies should be encouraged to expand meals programs to include a breakfast service to a targeted population.