 | Kevin Knaup received his Kansas Adult Care Home Administrator's license in 1983 and is the Administrator and part owner of Sunset Manor, Inc. in Frontenac, KS. He has been employed at Sunset Manor for 31 years. He is a member of Kansas Health Care Association and Kansas Adult Care Executives. He has served on various local and state committees for education and training in the Adult Care home field. |
Senior Living
2011-12-27 11:43:55
The economy and senior nutrition
Q: I have an elderly neighbor that I have noticed does not get out often and seems to be quite frail. We do not know her well, as we recently moved next door, but we believe she is not getting enough to eat. We do not want to insult her by asking, and so far, she has refused our invitations to diner. We are nearly certain that there are others in our neighborhood in the same situation. Do you have any suggestions?
A: It is good that you are taking a concern for your senior neighbors. Nutrition is an important issue for the senior population as they are most vulnerable to economics and likely have medical conditions that require special diets. Food insecurity, or not having food, whether because of lack of funds or means to attain it because of mobility issues, is a serious problem nationwide that largely goes unnoticed.
Here are some startling facts about hunger and citizens over 65:
• An estimated 1.2 million households have a person 65 or older facing food insecurity.
• Many seniors use senior nutrition sites as their one meal a day.
• 30% of households with seniors say they have had to choose between food and medication or paying utility bills.
I would suggest that you keep trying to assist your neighbor. Ask if she would like to accompany you to town or offer to take her the store if lack of transportation is a problem. If she is reluctant to come to diner by herself, help her warm up by having an outdoor barbecue and invite other neighbors as well, so she sees it as a gesture of friendship, rather than charity. Ask her for her help first to help break the ice by keeping an eye on the house while you are away for the day, for example. Also, be sure your neighbors know about valuable programs like Meals on Wheels, which delivers nutritious meals right to their door. Chances are, the more you reach out, the more you will help her and perhaps others like her, accept your help.
