The Citymeals Blog

“Longevity experts are telling us what we’re already aware of,” says Deborah. “Humans are living longer.” At 104 years old, Deborah is a good example of this. “But I’m not the only one,” she says.  

Older people are one of the country’s fastest growing demographics. New York City alone is home to 1.8 million people over the age of 60 — that’s 20% of the population.  

Some of them, like 89-year-old Wade, didn’t expect to live as long as they have. A former cab driver, he never had much in the way of savings. Now, he’s the primary caregiver for his wife, who is almost completely blind. As the cost of living continues to rise, it’s been difficult to afford food and remain in the apartment he’s called home for most of his life.  

More than half of Citymeals’ recipients are over 75 years old; a third are over 85. And more than 500 of them, including Deborah, are centenarians — people over 100. Each has their own unique needs. 

Even Deborah, who doesn’t have any major health conditions, needs more help than she used to. When she was in her 70s and 80s, she could easily shop and cook for herself. Now, she relies on a wheeling walker to get around her apartment. She can’t stay standing for long and her hands shake, which makes food prep difficult.   

During this Older Americans Month, we want to highlight that continuum of need. Because the support someone needs changes over time. To effectively address that, we need community- and home-based solutions, like our new Shopping Assistance program.  

The latest iteration of this program provided participants with grocery vouchers, as well as volunteers to do the shopping they no longer can. The additional financial support not only helped to reduce the risk of food insecurity among recipients, but the social support also helped them to choose what they ate. That dignity of choice is important.  

Programs like this are meeting older people where they are — often right at their door.  

We need to remember that getting older is not a problem to be solved, but another stage of life. It should be embraced, not ignored. “Aging can be a delightful experience,” says Deborah. “Meals on wheels got me this far!”