An Ounce of Prevention

I received a text from a senior I know:

“An Elvis Impersonator came to my exercise class!” Sure enough, my phone had an image of my loved one with the King. (Or a King Wannabe). And this felt very on-brand. She would love this kind of thing. And that made me smile.

Once I had a chance to talk with her, I learned more. She’s been going to a Senior Center with a friend for an exercise class, and as part of this program, they get a free meal afterward. Upon learning more, I heard that seniors can take these meals home, too. “And sometimes, they’ll deliver them to you,” she added.

That’s when I put two and two together and understood that Meals on Wheels is partnering with the Senior Center in this way. I began thinking about how important this is: Seniors have an opportunity to get movement for their bodies, have social connection, sit down for a meal together, or take food home, or sign up some of their own loved ones to receive what they need at home, too.

This is all care. When it comes to health outcomes, it’s also prevention. What’s that phrase? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure? This seems like such an incredible example of that. This keeps seniors connected. It benefits their finances. It makes them less likely to end up in the hospital. And if they do have serious health needs, they have both staff and a circle of peers to check in on them. And on top of all of that, they’re receiving Elvis to boot.

I also found myself sad, thinking about how these kinds of programs are experiencing funding cuts. I wonder how many of those seniors are aware that these very kinds of programs are in danger of drying up. I hope that won’t be the case for this particular set of offerings I’ve described. But I know it’s going to happen somewhere, or even a lot of somewheres.

I continue to be moved by people who have the vision to create such compounding benefits for their communities. We’ll also have to do the work to ensure they receive the funding they need.

— Renee Roederer