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Nutrition Options for People on Tight Budget
By
Melanie Rochin
Guest Columnist
Ann
O’Malley lives alone in her two-bedroom house in Rancho Cordova,
which she is still making payments on. It’s Thursday night,
Ann has just eaten the last of her crackers and soup, and now she
is sitting down to pay her bills. The 67-year-old is wrapped in her
robe, but she is still cold because she cannot afford to heat her
home.
Ann recently retired, and she struggles to make ends meet on her meager Social
Security stipend of less than $1,000 a month. She is looking at a pile of monthly
bills, including her mortgage ($600 a month with insurance), water ($32 a month),
SMUD ($60 a month), PG&E ($18 a month), trash ($35 a month) and auto expenses
($100 a month).
These bills add up to approximately $850, which leaves her less than $150 to
feed herself and take care of her medical needs. These last two items, which
are essential to her continued health and well-being, are often neglected and
purchased only after her bills have been taken care of first.
What happened? What does she do? Where does she go? How can she afford to feed
herself?
Ann is a proud woman and is embarrassed by the predicament she finds herself
in. When her friends call and ask her out to dinner or to a social event, she
has to come up with an excuse for not being able to attend, because she can’t
afford to go.
Ann is inhibited by her financial limitations, and she has begun to isolate herself
as a result, which further exacerbates her situation. She feels afraid, hurt
and angry, but she isn’t sure why. She has worked her entire life, paid
her taxes, has been a model citizen and now fears that she may one day be homeless.
And she’s still hungry.
One day, she confided in her sister, Mary. Much to her surprise, Mary had some
good ideas. Mary told her to call 2-1-1 Sacramento (498-1000), which is a free,
confidential information and referral service that is available 24-hours a day,
seven days a week.
The 2-1-1 program, which utilizes a database of more than 2,400 nonprofit and
public agency programs, can put residents in touch with services that can provide
much-needed relief.
For example, the Department of Human Assistance offers the Senior Nutrition Services
(SNS) throughout Sacramento County (including the cities of Citrus Heights, Elk
Grove, Folsom, Galt, Rancho Cordova and Sacramento). This program, which prepares
an average of 2,500 meals each weekday, works to support and maintain the independence
and dignity of older persons in their homes and communities and to prevent premature
institutionalization through the provision of a balanced noon meal five-days
per week.
The SNS is broken into two parts. The Congregate Meal Program serves a free,
hot noontime meal to an average of 750 seniors each weekday at 25 locations throughout
the county (a small donation is encouraged). To be eligible, seniors must be
at least 60 years old and call ahead to reserve their meal. These sites also
provide a warm, social atmosphere, helping to reduce isolation and loneliness.
The Home Delivered Meal Program (also known as Meals On Wheels) plans, prepares
and delivers an average of 1,700 free meals daily (including frozen meals to
get seniors through weekends). To be eligible, seniors must be at least 60 years
old and be homebound and frail (determined by a program assessment, which is
performed at no cost).
For more information about this program, call the Senior Nutrition Services at
(916) 444-9533 or visit their Web site at http://dhaweb.saccounty.net/MOW/index.htm.
But these aren’t Ann’s only options. There are over 100 food banks
located throughout the county, which can be easily located by calling 2-1-1 Sacramento.
These food banks provide basic foods (bread, produce in season, canned goods
and dairy products when available) for low-income individuals at no cost. These
programs operate with an understanding of the financial straits people are finding
themselves in and treat their clientele with the dignity they deserve.
“Senior’s tend to overlook their own nutritional needs,” said
Denise Chapel, R.D., program coordinator for the Health Education Council. “Many
aren’t getting enough proteins, vitamins and minerals specific to the diet
they’ve been put on. It is important for everyone to eat properly, especially
seniors, because if they aren’t eating healthy they put themselves at risk.”
It is also important for seniors to be vigilant regarding food safety. It is
essential to keep an eye out for cross-contamination of meat products (on a cutting
board, for example) and pay attention to the expiration dates on food products
(and throw out moldy leftovers!).
“I always encourage seniors to keep their ears open for nutritional information,” said
Chapel. “Talk to friends about nutritional concerns, because they might
have some wisdom to share. They might also have some ideas about how to stretch
your food dollar.”
Resources like the Senior Nutrition Services and 2-1-1 Sacramento are a link
for seniors and other dependent adults to needed program services. It is also
important for seniors to know that if they initiate contact with a debtor, often
a payment plan can be worked out.
The Adult & Aging Commission is aware of these and many other senior issues
and works to impact the lives of seniors and dependent adults in a positive way.
Melanie Rochin has been a member of the Adult & Aging Commission for two
years, during which time she has worked extensively with the Rancho Cordova Senior
Center and their coordinating council. Ann O’Malley is a creation of Melanie’s
imagination and she represents the real fears she has about being a dependent
adult. Melanie, who is active in agency relations for the California Emergency
Food Link, works at the Rancho Cordova Food Locker.
This page and its contents ©2009
Metropolitan News Company, Inc.
