As a registered dietitian, I understand the value of nutrition’s role in health. Yet food is more than nutrition. Food is culture, food is memories, food is pleasure, and food something to look forward to.

As  a daughter, I value the community services my 90-year-old dad receives to maintain his quality of life and help him age well at home.

Meals on Wheels, one of the original food-as-medicine programs, is rooted in providing healthy food and nutrition education to recipients. My dad’s daily meal delivery provides our family peace of mind that he has a balanced hot meal, a smile, and check-in from the volunteer drivers who hand him his meal.

The Senior Center’s mission is to enrich the lives of those 60 and older by providing resources to maintain their dignity and independence. Though I laughed when I saw my high school classmates join me for lunch at the Senior Center, the truth is more of us Baby Boomers will be requiring the benefits of their services. But these services are critical for my dad now. His attendance at an exercise class helps maintain his balance and strength, but he’s also developed social connections which often include a meal. As we learned during the pandemic, there is a profound link between social connections and emotional and mental health. He is often greeted by name which makes him feel more comfortable and welcome which further adds to his wellbeing.

The healthcare needs of our aging population continue to grow, there is a critical need to ensure our seniors will be cared for. But with increasing costs and decreasing funding opportunities, programs and services are at a critical junction. It’s impossible to fundraise enough to create a secure future for these vital services.

As the availability of family caregivers and other forms of informal support for older adults, such as meal preparation, are expected to decrease, seniors will likely require more costly institutional long-term care and hospital services, so I support and encourage you to support the Natrona County Senior Citizens Service District to ensure that our community has stable funding to create long-term infrastructure.

Sincerely,

Judy Barbe