Knox County’s senior population is growing rapidly, facing rising healthcare costs, inflation, and housing instability. Mobile Meals, established in 1971, has long provided daily hot meals, safety checks, and social visits to each homebound senior served. However, with a record number of seniors served last year, Mobile Meals is reaching the capacity of its one-size-fits-all model, straining resources amid increasing food and fuel costs.

Mobile Meals plans to partner with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s Social Work Office of Research and Public Service (SWORPS) to modernize service delivery and develop a prioritization tool that assesses each senior’s needs and tailors service levels accordingly. This tiered model will ensure that high-risk seniors continue receiving daily check-ins, while seniors who require less frequent assistance still benefit from regular meals and wellness checks.