Aging in place allows seniors the benefit of remaining in the familiar environment of their own home and maintaining more independence. While assisted living centers and nursing homes provide security and medical care for those who need it, aging in place is a better option for many. Resources like meal delivery help seniors remain independent at home for as long as possible. Here is what you should know about meals for seniors.
Nutrition and Senior Health
Although most seniors need fewer calories than their younger counterparts do, the nutritional quality of their diet should increase. With age, the body has more difficulty absorbing nutrients, and this means older adults are more prone to malnutrition. In addition, many health issues, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, will worsen if the diet is poor.
Prepared meals for seniors can provide balanced nutrition to facilitate better health and well-being. Many older adults who suffer from fatigue or mobility problems find it difficult to continue cooking nutritionally balanced meals on a daily basis. In the absence of wholesome delivered meals, some resort to eating processed foods that are easier to cook but are high in sodium, sugar and fat.
Decreased appetite is also common in the elderly and can make cooking a meal feel like an unwelcome chore. These seniors might be tempted to skip meals unless meals are delivered directly to the home.
Special Diets
When choosing meal delivery, consider any special dietary needs. Program options vary from location to location, even with well-known meal delivery organizations, so make sure to ask which dietary options they offer. Most can accommodate seniors with low-sodium and low-sugar dietary needs, but not all supply special diets for other health issues or for religious and ethical dietary needs. Discuss the options with many delivery services to see which service is the best fit.
Delivery Options
The number of daily meals required influences the delivery options and providers you should choose. Seniors who only need one hot meal a day and can make their own sandwich or breakfast at other times might wish to choose a program like Meals on Wheels.
Other options include programs that periodically deliver a selection of heat-and-eat meals, like our SunMeadow® brand frozen and shelf-stable meals. These are prepared meals that can be heated in a microwave at the senior’s convenience. Unlike processed meals from the grocery stores, these specially prepared meals for seniors are nutritionally balanced.
Cost
Cost of prepared meals for seniors varies, but many programs offer the service on a sliding scale basis or for free. Free home-delivered meals are available through various agencies, including those commonly referred to as Meals On Wheels. Program participation criteria vary from state-to-state and, sometimes, between different case management offices based on their funding requirements and plan design.
To identify the agency that can determine your eligibility, call 1-800-677-1116 or visit www.eldercare.gov. On the eldercare.gov site, interested individuals can search for services by location based on zip code or city and state. We recommend searching based on zip code, particularly in large metropolitan areas who may be served by multiple agencies. Locate agencies listed in the search results that have “Nutrition Programs” or “Home Delivered Meals” in their description. Contact those agencies directly and request home delivered meals service from GA Foods.
The more a senior has access to healthy foods and all of life’s necessities, the easier it will be to age-at-home. For more information on choosing a home-delivered meals provider, download our free ebook:
