Compare Meals on Wheels and congregate meal programs for an older adult who is homebound and socially isolated. Which assessment best identifies the relative strengths and key limitation for this individual?

• A. Both programs are identical in delivery method and social opportunities, so either one is equally appropriate for a homebound, socially isolated elder without any trade-offs.
• B. Congregate meal programs are designed specifically for people who prefer home delivery and actively discourage attendance at community sites; Meals on Wheels aims to gather elders together in centralized locations for socializing.
• C. Meals on Wheels provides home-delivered nutritious meals suitable for homebound individuals and reduces food insecurity but offers limited social interaction; congregate meals enhance social engagement but are less accessible to someone who cannot leave home, making Meals on Wheels preferable despite isolation risks.
• D. Meals on Wheels requires daily travel to community centers, maximizing social contact but poorly serving homebound elders; congregate meals deliver frozen meals to homes, eliminating the need to travel and providing little social benefit.

Answer: (C)