L.O.V.E.’s food and nutrition program – Provisions from the Heart – is an immediate response to the overwhelming need for our elders to have access to an evidence-based food and nutrition program that would ensure the availability of safe and adequate food to promote optimal nutrition, health, functionality, and quality of life.
In partnership and collaboration with organizations, community members, and individuals, L.O.V.E. is committed to engaging in coordinated service between the community and healthcare systems that reach out to the needs of our elderly population. Our collaborative efforts to address the rising effects of food insecurity amongst this group of aging citizens is a much-needed component of the L.O.V.E. provision of care, which results in allowing our elders the opportunity to remain in their homes (age in place); improve and/or maintain their health and manage chronic disease; better navigate transitions of care; and reduce avoidable hospital, acute, or long-term care facility admissions.
An exclusive component of Provisions from the Heart is an effort to engage our elders who are literally “shut-in” due to limited or no mobility to move outdoors independently or not at all. Providing for these elders is crucial because it allows them to maintain a healthy diet, combat social isolation, and preserve their overall well-being.
Provisions from the Heart, by collaborating and partnering with food and meal provision organizations and agencies (i.e., Citymeals on Wheels; Senior Farmers’ Market; NYC Department for the Aging; Gods Love We Deliver; Food Bank for NYC; and others), supports “shut-in” elders by assisting them in maintaining a healthy diet, combating social isolation, and preserving their overall well-being by providing essential services like prepared meals, grocery shopping assistance, and opportunities to connect with others. This service of care will significantly impact their quality of life, especially when they would otherwise struggle to perform these tasks independently due to physical limitations.
Essential areas addressed by this component of Provisions from the Heart for our elders are:
- Nutritional needs: Difficulty in shopping and cooking can lead to inadequate nutrition, impacting health and energy levels.
- Social isolation: Without access to social interaction, elders can experience loneliness and depression, which can further deteriorate their mental health.
- Safety concerns: Mobility issues can increase the risk of falls and accidents caused while trying to perform daily tasks like cooking or grocery shopping.
- Maintaining independence: Providing support with essential needs allows our elders to remain in their homes (age in place) and maintain a sense of autonomy.
- Early intervention: Having contact with deliverers of meals also provides an opportunity to “check in” on elders’ overall wellness while observing mobility or other challenges which can decline and improve quality of life and provide early detection.