March is Senior Nutrition Month. There are many month-long observances like this intended to focus awareness, celebrate culture and educate the public on important topics or causes. So often they blend together or fade into the background.
But at Serving Seniors, senior nutrition is at the heart of our effort to support low-income and homeless older adults every day. While we pursue the development of more senior centers and affordable housing along with prevention programs such as shallow rental subsidies, providing nutritious meals is where it all starts.
Kristine Smith is chief programs and services officer for Serving Seniors. An expert dietician, Smith oversees our meal program, responsible for providing 1.7 million meals annually. She discusses our programs in a new series of videos on the Serving Seniors YouTube channel.
“Every day we see seniors who work their whole lives and still can’t keep up,” said Smith. “Many are living on Social Security, sometimes less than $1,200 a month. And we serve seniors who are living in their cars, on the streets, in shelters or in unstable living conditions.
“Even for housed seniors, mobility issues, chronic illnesses or not having transportation make accessing food incredibly difficult. Many of our clients don’t have full kitchens, or they’re physically unable to cook, so access to a prepared nutritious meal becomes essential.”
“Getting something to eat is often the first step in working with our clients to help them access the programs and services that can stabilize their housing or find support. At Serving Seniors, nutrition is our front door,” explained Smith.
“Once they’re in, they sit down, they have a meal, and that’s where the relationship starts.
“From there, our case managers, health educators or nutrition team members can begin to build trust and the relationship with them and then connect them to housing support or health care or other services. We also pay attention to the changes in health or their behavior, so that, if needed, we can intervene early.”
Serving Seniors runs a full-scale food operation 365 days a year, serving meals at ten dining rooms from Oceanside south to Imperial Beach, and east to La Mesa. The nonprofit also offer meals for pickup and deliver meals, programs started during the pandemic which remain as options.
But Smith emphasizes the value of a warm and welcome atmosphere where client are guests and not made to feel they are in an institutional setting.
“We really pride ourselves in serving a dignified meal, and the place where we’re serving the meal is really important to us,” she said.
“Our typical lunch is served in a lovely dining room. It feels like a restaurant, and their friends are there with them. There’s conversations and laughter. Sometimes we have a singing group that serenades the lunchtime, so it feels like a really close knit community, not a service transaction.”
Smith and her team solicit feedback from reviews when creating the menus, while maintaining balanced nutrition.
Ensuring an older adult isn’t going hungry is just the beginning. When clients come in for meals regularly and begin feeling more comfortable, Serving Seniors case managers step in to provide wraparound services.
“This can start with a simple conversation, where we may learn that they’re at risk of losing housing. We can connect them with a case manager on site, and they can start working on a plan together,” explained Smith.
“We might also learn that an individual has no access to healthcare or is struggling to manage a chronic condition. A lot of what we do is just help people navigate complex systems. They’re really hard for anyone to navigate. What starts as a meal turns into individualized support, meeting people where they are and helping them to move forward with stability.
“What we’ve learned is that consistent access to meals helps prevent homelessness. When seniors aren’t spending what little money they have on food, they can stay current on rent or afford healthcare.
“No one should have to age into hunger or isolation, especially in a community like San Diego. We all have a role to play in making sure that older adults are supported, connected and cared for,” said Smith. “We all have a responsibility to do our part in helping older adults age gracefully with dignity, and sometimes that starts with something as simple and special as a meal.”
Please check in with the older adults in your own life, perhaps over a home cooked meal. The connection you make matters as much as the food you share, and can make all the difference.
Melinda Forstey is president and chief executive officer of Serving Seniors.
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