April 8, 2008

Mayor Burr delivers

Mayors for Meals focuses on nutrition, physical activity needs of elderly

Mayor Donald Burr participated in the Mayors for Meals on March 18 and 19 delivering nutritious hot meals to Campbell seniors.

Mayor Don Burr delivers Meals on Wheels to Campbell resident Blanche Bomen.

“It was extremely satisfying to meet with the seniors and to see their happiness in meeting their mayor,” said Burr. “It was delightful to hear their comments about the program Meals On Wheels and how much they enjoyed their involvement. Our seniors are extremely important to our community.”

Burr was one of nine mayors participating in the event in Santa Clara valley to call attention to the risks of malnutrition among older adults. Each visited the homes of Meals On Wheels clients, a program operated by The Health Trust that annually delivers more than 97,000 meals to frail elderly, disabled and other vulnerable adults in the county.

Besides Burr, Gilroy Mayor Pro Tem Bob Dillon, Los Gatos Mayor Barbara Spector, Milpitas Mayor Jose Esteves, Morgan Hill Mayor Pro Tem Marby Lee, Mountain View Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga, San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed, Santa Clara Mayor Patricia Mahan and Sunnyvale Mayor Tony Spitaleri participated in the event.

"We appreciate the mayors’ understanding the importance of providing isolated, vulnerable seniors with nutritious hot meals," said Renee Kellythorne, director of Meals On Wheels. "Too many seniors who live alone don't prepare fresh meals for themselves. Many snack on prepackaged foods that may not have the nutritional values that will keep them healthy and active."

Mayor Don Burr visits with Campbell resident Alice Gonzales after delivering her a nutritious hot meal from Meals on Wheels.

Kellythorne explained that people lose taste sensation as they get older, so food is not as satisfying. Medications, loss of stamina and chronic illnesses can also affect the ability of an individual to shop and cook meals for themselves.

"Our clients want to continue to live independently in their own homes, and they need a little help from the community to achieve this goal," she said, adding that the cost of a year's delivery of Meals On Wheels meals is less than one day in a hospital. 

There are about 160,000 residents in Santa Clara County over the age of 65, and persons over the age of 85 are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population. According to Kellythorne, only 13 percent of older adults eat the minimum amount of fruit and vegetables needed for good nutrition, and one in five skip meals daily.    

“If you're just cooking for yourself and you don't feel very well, then it's easier to open a can than prepare a hot meal with fresh ingredients," she said. "And many of our clients don't have transportation to get to the grocery store. It's understandable why they are not eating well. We're just glad that Meals On Wheels can bring them the meals they need for better nutrition and independence.”