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United Way of Tompkins County Affiliate Member Organization
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Why Meals on Wheels are Important by Carolyn Arnold, RD Foodnet Meals on Wheels, the senior nutrition program in Tompkins County, provides a nutritious hot meal five days a week to county seniors who would be unable to continue living in their own homes without it. Our mission is to serve all those sixty and over with a need, and to start the service promptly, often when people need us the most. “Mary” is not an unusual client. Now 80, she has diabetes, heart problems and failing eyesight. She uses a wheelchair due to falling easily. Her husband, also diabetic, helps her, but he recently had a stroke and no longer drives; a neighbor gets their groceries. Mary requires food prepared without salt, and both need nutritionally balanced diabetic meals, which are difficult for him to prepare. “John”, age 70, recovering from pneumonia, lost weight while ill and doesn’t have much appetite. He goes home from the hospital tomorrow, but has no family in the area, and is too weak yet to shop and fix meals for himself. His income is limited, and he walks with a cane due to arthritic joints. He needs someone to check on him daily and bring him a hot meal. “Linda”, age 92, lives with her adult daughter, who works full-time. Linda’s memory is impaired, and she can no longer safely cook or even reheat food. A sandwich left in the refrigerator goes forgotten, but a hot meal delivered to her by a friendly outreach driver gets eaten. “Tanisha”, age 45, has multiple sclerosis and relies on home health aides for assistance bathing, doing laundry, cleaning and getting groceries. She’s too young to qualify for the nutrition program, but her home care agency has a contract with Foodnet to provide meals. This is more cost-effective than paying someone to cook for her, and the meals are planned by a nutritionist to meet her needs. Foodnet also operates group meal sites in three senior housing facilities (Titus Towers in Ithaca, Woodsedge in Lansing, and Center Village Courts in Groton). Anyone 60 or over is welcome to call for a reservation and join the “seniors doing lunch” part of Foodnet. Seneca County operates a site on the north side of Seneca Road in Trumansburg, and has a contract with Foodnet to serve Tompkins County seniors. Nutrition program participants like these appreciate Foodnet services and voluntarily contribute about 20% of our budget. We rely primarily on federal, state and local funding through the county Office for the Aging (who subcontract to us), and are grateful for the support of the Tompkins County Legislature and taxpayers. Following unprecedented growth in the need for services (over 20% more participants and meals were served in 2004 than in 2003), in 2006 we managed to add two new routes and optimize all our routes with help from graduate students in Operational Research and Industrial Engineering at Cornell University. Still the need continues to grow and rising costs are straining our resources to the limit. So far we have avoided putting people on a waiting list for meals, but the challenge of rising costs and community need is great. Fundraising, originally for equipment only, has become essential to provide basic services to all in need. Our major fundraiser, the Annual Wheelathon Poker Run and Chicken BBQ, occurs on a Saturday in September at Cass Park. The lead sponsor for 2007 and 2008 is the Tompkins Trust Company. With their leadership and planning, and the support of many local businesses and individuals it is a very successful and fun event. Most recently about 300 people were involved, and $16,000 was raised. Meals on Wheels benefit the community in many ways. By keeping seniors who are at risk of poor nutrition in their own homes and eating balanced meals, we reduce the frequency and length of hospital and nursing home stays, saving healthcare costs. Participants have the security of knowing where their next meal is coming from, and that someone is checking on them (sometimes our driver is the only person the participant spoke with that day). Seniors also receive nutrition education and counseling to help them better understand and meet their changing nutritional needs. Family members have the peace of mind of knowing their parent or grandparent is eating well, especially those requiring low salt or diabetic meals not available commercially. And we all can be proud that, in Tompkins County at least, our neighbors in their “golden years” have the help they need to maintain their health, dignity and quality of life.
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