Providing nutrition for seniors
By LuAnn Morgan
Contributing writer
Everyone has days when cooking can seem like a chore. It could be because of busy schedules, work or other obligations.
For the elderly, it just may be because it takes some effort or energy they don’t feel they have. But that may also mean they aren’t getting all the nutrition they need to be healthy.
Aging and Adult Care of Central Washington can help.
The Senior Nutrition Program provides vouchers for seniors to get nutritionally balanced meals called Seniors Choice. Each quarter, participants receive 26 vouchers with their name printed on them to use at qualifying restaurants. In Othello, they can be redeemed at either Casa Mexicana or Othello Community Hospital’s cafeteria.
The vouchers can be used on the Seniors Choice Menu set up at each location. Each menu selection provides items from all the basic food groups.
In 1965, the Older Americans Act was passed by Congress to help each state develop a comprehensive and coordinated network to provide services, opportunities and protection for older Americans to help them maintain health and independence in their homes and to be able to continue to function as a part of their community.
Over the years, the act has been amended based on experiences at the state, regional and local levels across the U.S.
To qualify, you must be 60 years or older and be a resident of the city where the restaurant is at.
Even though there is no cost for the program, participants may send a donation to Aging and Adult Care or there are donation boxes at the restaurants, which helps the restaurant recover some of its costs.
Menus are set up on the approval of a registered dietician using government-mandated guidelines.
Aging and Adult Care has other programs to help seniors get the nutrition they need, such as home-delivered meals.
Plus, once a person qualifies for any of the programs, their spouse is automatically added.
The program is also available in Quincy at C7 and Tacos Mi Pueblo restaurants.
Sign-up forms for the program are available at the participating restaurants or by calling Aging and Adult Care at (509) 886-0700 or toll free at (800) 572-4459.
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