Food For Thought

Jewish Social Services

Eighty-six year old "Lucy" lives alone in her own home. She can no longer drive, and has no local family. A visitor noticed that Lucy was losing weight—a signal that medical and psychosocial assessments were needed, so Lucy’s family consulted with a JSS social worker (along with the family physician) about their concerns.

JSS took a number of actions, including providing transportation to Lechayim, the JSS weekly senior luncheon, where Lucy could socialize and eat a nutritious meal. JSS also arranged for Meals on Wheels to be delivered and provided a volunteer to pick up fresh groceries weekly and put them in small, easily used containers. Finally, JSS suggested that Lucy’s daughter call her mother daily and gently remind her to eat dinner.

The personal relationships that JSS provides can make a critical difference—Lucy and a JSS volunteer put out a pretty placemat and favorite dishes to make Lucy’s mealtimes more pleasant. With these changes, Lucy is gaining some weight, eating more regular meals, and enjoy a wider variety of foods. These actions, funded by AFFW’s grant, help Lucy to continue to live happily, and independently.