The pilot program used trained meal-delivery drivers to submit electronic alerts using an app when they had a concern or observed a change in a client's condition. Over the course of 12 months, care coordinators received more than 400 alerts and followed up with clients to offer support and help connect them to health and community services. The most common alerts were for changes in health (56%), followed by self‐care or personal safety (12%) and mobility (11%). After following up, care coordinators issued 132 referrals, mostly for self‐care (33%), health (17%), and care management services (17%).

According to Dr. Thomas and her colleagues, these findings demonstrate that using meal-delivery drivers -- who are already in regular contact with the homebound clients receiving meal deliveries -- is a feasible approach to identify unmet needs. They suggest that the pilot program be expanded and further tested.