Having good nutrition is vital to maintaining good health
and no one is more at risk than an older adult in our society. Many seniors don’t eat a healthy,
well-balanced diet for many reasons.
Some have limitations because of a disability and are not able to
prepare meals for themselves. Some
don’t feel like cooking and so end up eating junk food or snacking. (Although I have a client, male, age 92 at
present, who survived the last 10-15 years on a diet mainly of coffee, bananas
and Twinkies. I finally was able to get
him on Meals-On-Wheels for the about 2 years.
Today he is still doing well and is in a local nursing home – eating a
much-improved diet). Some older adults
have developed diseases such as diabetes, which complicate their food
preparation if they don’t understand the importance of changing their
diet. Whatever the reason, seniors
often don’t eat a healthy diet.
To meet some of these needs, the Meals-On-Wheels program
provides nutritious, healthy meals on a daily schedule. Each area has its own resource for this
program and the content and schedule will vary. However, the aim is the same and that is to ensure that seniors
are fed in a healthy way. Usually, the
program can meet the criteria for special diets such as a diabetic diet. Some sites provide just lunch and some
provide lunch and a sandwich for dinner.
Check out your local senior resources to find out where the
Meals-On-Wheels program originates in your area and how it is run. Initially, a home visit and assessment is
usually necessary to get a senior on the program and then a follow-up visit and
assessment is done on a regular schedule.
Some sites may have a waiting list so check out this
resource before you need it—for instance an upcoming hospital stay for a
parent, etc. I have had people call
(discharge planners do this regularly) and order MOWs like it is Chinese
take-out. People also sometimes think
it is like a restaurant where you get to pick and choose. Not so, for most MOWs sites, they usually are
distributing a meal from a fixed schedule. Many senior centers also have a noon dining program, which
has seniors reserve a hot meal the day before by phone. The senior then comes to the Center and eats
in the dining room. If a reservation
has not been made, there may be a deli bar which features hot soup, sandwiches
and various salad bar items.
Lastly, private companies are now
offering a dietary plan on
a weekly or monthly schedule where they prepare the food and deliver it or have
it picked up. The meals are healthy and
delicious but may be pricey for seniors on a fixed income. However, it is worth checking out if there
is a temporary need.
So, check out your area and see where these types of
programs may be available. I suggest
that you call your local Senior Center and ask them.
