Community

Newport Senior Center News: Jan. 4

It has been brought to our attention that there are several outfits claiming to be Meals-on-Wheels in Sullivan County. Do not get confused with groups trying to imitate Sullivan County Nutrition Services (SCNS). SCNS has been providing Meals-on-Wheels in Sullivan County since 1972, except for Plainfield. Because of its close proximity to Grafton County, Grafton County serves participants in Plainfield.

SCNS operates out of the Newport Senior Center and has a smaller satellite location, which operates out of the Earl Bourdon Centre, in Claremont. Imitation groups do not have or are required to have the same standards as SCNS.

All the meals served by SCNS have to be reviewed and approved by a licensed nutritionist to ensure that the menu meets at least one-third of the recommended daily allowance. Food is prepared in licensed kitchens that are licensed and inspected at a minimum, annually.

Kitchen staff are trained and certified in Serv-Safe. Serv-Safe is an educational class that teaches about safe food handling. The class SCNS participates in is the manager’s class. The manager’s class is more involved than a three hour course and takes an entire day, in addition to at-home studying. This class is complemented by the purchase of food from certified food vendors.

Every employee has to undergo a background check, a BEAS Registry check, which identifies any convictions of child or elder abuse, and an OIG check to verify potential employees have not been convicted of Medicaid fraud.

Because we contract with the State of New Hampshire to provide Meals-on-Wheels, we are required to hold a $2 million dollar insurance policy, at the minimum. SCNS staff is required to document all deliveries and maintain those records for seven years. SCNS drivers also provide a wellness check for those we serve. This wellness check has saved lives and helped individuals in medical emergencies.

SCNS is also subject to annual independent audits to ensure safety procedures, documentation and best practices are followed. These procedures do not allow for inflation of the number of meals served or an unduplicated number of people served because every meal and client is documented when served. In addition, SCNS also has to have a worker’s compensation audit each year to ensure equipment and facilities meet safety regulations and other requirements are met. We also have unannounced site audits performed by the State of New Hampshire.

This is just a partial list of the many standards SCNS is required to follow to ensure the safe preparation and delivery of food to participants in Sullivan County.

SCNS also provides congregate meals in two locations, Newport Senior Center and Earl Bourdon Centre. The same requirements have to be met for serving congregate meals as well. In addition, SCNS also provides senior transportation in Newport.

None of these programs have a funding source that pays for the cost of providing these valuable services to older adults in its entirety. The partial funding we receive requires a cash match. If we are not able to match state and federal dollars by at least 20%, we would lose the state and federal dollars.

This is important for individuals to know because organizations like Meals-on-Wheels America sends out request letters for Meals-on-Wheels. However, the funds they receive do not go back to the local programs where the donations come from.

Don’t be fooled by imitation programs that do not have the same high standards as SCNS. When someone tells you they are Meals-on-Wheels, be sure to ask questions and if you are not talking to a SCNS employee, you are not being provided meals from the original Meals-on-Wheels program.

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