MEDINA (9/9/16)
In partnership with the
Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging (WRAAA), two State legislators will be visiting the Medina County Office for Older Adults and delivering lunches to residents in Medina County.
Representative Steve Hambley (House District 69) will deliver lunches on Monday, September 12th at 10:00 am and
Senator Larry Ohhof, President Pro Tempore (Senate District 22) will deliver lunches on Monday, September 19th at 10:00 am. It is important that legislators are made aware of food insecurity in the community and are willing to help spread the word about the importance of the home delivered meal program. In 2015, Medina County served 7,495 congregate meals and delivered 31,346 meals to older residents in the community.
"Medina County Office for Older Adults is delighted to host visits with Representative Hambley and Senator Obhof in the month of September," says Laura Toth, LISW-S, Director of the Medina County Office for Older Adults. "
They will experience how a meal is delivered to homebound seniors in Medina County. We have many older adults in Medina County who are able to age in place because of our home delivered meal program. It is a wonderful collaboration of services funded through the WRAAA and the Medina County Commissioners."
Even the healthiest seniors may face hunger, isolation and loss of independence. According to Meals on Wheels America, nationally, 1 in 6 seniors struggles with hunger. In 2014, Ohio ranked 10th nationwide and 1st in the Midwest for seniors aged 60+ who are food insecure (17.56%). Without support from home delivered meal programs, many seniors are forced to prematurely trade their homes for more costly alternatives like nursing homes.
Home delivered meal services not only provide a nutritious meal, but also friendly visits and safety checks, enabling older adults to live healthy lives with independence and dignity. As Laura Toth
, LISW-S, Director of the Medina County Office for Older Adults states, "
In this program, we supply not only a hot lunch for each eligible senior, but we visit with the senior each day, ensuring their safety and well-being. In many cases, it is the only contact they have with another individual in their daily life. We are honored to offer this vital program to those in need."
The Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging (WRAAA) is leading an effort to fill the gap between the seniors served and those in need. This gap is widening due to a rapidly aging population combined with declining public resources, and rising food, transportation and operational costs. "WRAAA delivers over 4,500 meals daily to seniors who live throughout our five county region," says Dr. E. Douglas Beach, CEO of the WRAAA. "We are grateful for the support of the Medina County Office for Older Adults who make this program successful every day. As food and transportation costs rise, and the elder population grows, it is important that home delivered meals get funding and recognition to remain a viable resource for older adults in the community."
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