Nine Mayors deliver hot meals to local seniors

Mayors for Meals event focuses on nutrition, physical activity needs of elderly

Nine Mayors of cities in Santa Clara County will deliver hot meals to stay-at-home seniors on March 18 and 19, to call attention to the risks of malnutrition among older adults.
Each will visit the homes of Meals On Wheels clients, a program operated by The Health Trust that annually delivers more than 97,000 meals to frail elderly, disabled and other vulnerable adults in the County.

Mayors participating in the event include: Campbell Mayor Don Burr, Gilroy Mayor Pro Tem Bob Dillon, Los Gatos Mayor Barbara Spector, Milpitas Mayor Jose Esteves, Morgan Hill Mayor Pro Tem Marby Lee, Mountain View Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga, San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed, Santa Clara Mayor Patricia Mahan, and Sunnyvale Mayor Tony Spitaleri.

“We appreciate the Mayors understanding the importance of providing isolated, vulnerable seniors with nutritious hot meals,” said Renee Kellythorne, Director of Meals On Wheels.  “Too many seniors who live alone don’t prepare fresh meals for themselves.  Many snack on prepackaged foods that may not have the nutritional values that will keep them healthy and active.”

Kellythorne explained that people lose taste sensation as they get older, so food is not as satisfying.  Medications, loss of stamina and chronic illnesses can also affect the ability of an individual to shop and cook meals for themselves.

“Our clients want to continue to live independently in their own homes, and they need a little help from the community to achieve this goal,” she said, adding that the cost of a year’s delivery of Meals On Wheels meals is less than one day in a hospital.

There are about 160,000 residents in Santa Clara County over the age of 65, and persons over the age of 85 are the fastest growing segment of the population in the U.S.  According to Kellythorne, only 13% of older adults eat the minimum amount of fruit and vegetables needed for good nutrition, and one in five skip meals daily.

“If you’re just cooking for yourself and you don’t feel very well, then it’s easier to open a can than prepare a hot meal with fresh ingredients,” she said.  “And many of our clients don’t have transportation to get to the grocery store.  It’s understandable why they are not eating well.  We’re just glad that Meals On Wheels can bring them the meals they need for better nutrition and independence.”