Catering to our Older Clients’ Unique Needs

Earlier this month, we hosted Grantmakers in Aging at God’s Love. We’re so inspired by their work of amplifying the voices of older adults and issues of aging, and we particularly want to highlight the importance of nutritional, medically tailored meals for older adults. Did you know that one in two older adults is malnourished or at risk of becoming malnourished?¹ Or that three out of four Americans over the age of 65 is living with a chronic condition which puts them at increasing risk of malnourishment?²

While our clients range in age from early twenties to over 100, 68% of those we serve are over the age of 60.

More than 5,100 seriously ill older adults count on us for age-related nutrition education tailored to work with their treatment. Our RDNs, who have specializations in gerontological nutrition, can support clients through age-related nutritional changes such as smaller appetite and a diminished sense of taste and smell, while simultaneously educating them with the right foods to eat while managing their illness.

Receiving weekly deliveries from God’s Love helps the Older Adults on our program:

Prevent weight loss – There is a relationship between unintentional weight loss and frailty, which leads to loss of independence and increased caregiver burden. Diminished weight is a factor in predicting mortality.

Maintain the ability to perform daily activities – Our meals help our clients maintain their strength, lean body mass, stamina, and thus hold on to greater independence.

Decrease risk of infections and falls – The changes in taste and smell that can accompany aging put older adults at greater risk of food-borne illness. Receiving safe meals with clear instructions vastly decreases this risk.

¹Kaiser MJ et al. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2010; 58(9):1734-1738
² Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Chronic Conditions Among Beneficiaries, Chart Book. 2012. Baltimore, MD; Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.