The Citymeals Blog

Food for Though
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On the Front Lines of Aging

With thirteen years of experience working in social services – over a decade at Encore Community Services and now at Citymeals – I have a unique perspective on the network of organizations that ensure the well-being of seniors participating in the meals on wheels program. These individuals have very different roles, but work together to make sure that every senior’s needs are met and changes in their circumstance are addressed as they age. 

A senior assessed by a social worker at the age of 78 might be able to leave his home daily, but a fall or unanticipated health issue could mean that by the next birthday, it’s a struggle to get around his apartment, let alone outside. Our aging population is susceptible to drastic changes like this, in short spans of time. Social workers, however, due to their ever-growing caseloads, often cannot make assessments and visits as frequently as necessary to be aware of such changes. This is where the role of our meal centers, deliverers and volunteers comes into play.

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Volunteers are a critical part of keeping our frail aged neighbors healthy and safe.

Once meals are being delivered, the senior can count on someone checking in daily. This means a subtle change that might have gone unnoticed can actually be addressed quickly or a dangerous situation can be preempted. Meal deliverers, staff and volunteers at the meal centers can bring to the attention of the case managers any changes in circumstance or concerns they may have about a senior. The case manager then can provide the senior with services to bring them greater comfort. 

Many times, I have seen a senior’s situation improved because a volunteer reported an issue, the meal center contacted the senior’s case manager, and the case manager was able to get extra support to that person. Issues can range from a senior needing help getting to a medical appointment to an individual experiencing elder abuse. There are special resources to help address these unique issues, and if any of these crucial individuals were not part of the network of support, the senior’s need might have gone unknown for too long.

In my new role, we’ve been able to connect hundreds of volunteers to support our centers and seniors. I’ve been able to see how all of these programs extend to all seniors in our city, and how big our network truly is. Citymeals provides so much more than just food, it provides our seniors with a network of people who care.

Food For Thought