A meal program aimed at providing affordable and nutrient-dense food to seniors is expanding to Peace Arch Hospital in White Rock.
The Seniors Meals Program was first piloted at Surrey Memorial and Royal Columbian Hospitals, and after it was found to be successful, it is now coming to four more locations, including White Rock.
“We saw an opportunity to use our quiet hours in the cafeterias to offer something meaningful to the community,” said Kevin Poland, director of of retail food operations at Fraser Health, in a news release.
“It just makes sense as our staff is already here, the kitchen is open, and we have the ingredients.”
With a price tag of $4.99, the meals are served during the evenings, using the existing kitchen facility at the hospital. With dishes like vegetarian lasagna and shepherd's pie, Chef Dustin attempts to make each evening's item nutritious and well-balanced while attempting to meet various dietary needs.
“Each meal is designed to be affordable, nutritious and filling, ensuring seniors receive the nourishment they need," said Angela Benincasa, manager of retail food services at Royal Columbian.
The intention of the program is to tackle not only food insecurity but social isolation, as the health authority says some seniors are choosing to eat with others and make friends.
"We're seeing repeat visitors, and some are even bringing their friends," Benincasa said. "It's becoming a social space, not just a meal service."
To measure the success of the program, which rotates between 20 different dishes, surveys were conducted at the two hospitals after meals were purchased. Overall, the health authority states, the feedback was positive.
“For many seniors living on a fixed income, accessing and preparing nutritious meals can be challenging,” Poland said.
“Based on the positive feedback, our program is helping bridge this gap by providing healthy and affordable meals.”
In addition to Peace Arch Hospital, Seniors Meals Program will also be running at Burnaby Hospital, Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Chilliwack General Hospital.
The meal program is running Monday to Friday — except on statutory holidays — between 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Peace Arch and Surrey Memorial hospitals at the Eyáleq’ep retail food locations in the hospitals. No ID is required to access the meal, Fraser Health states, adding that the customer only needs to indicate they are looking to purchase the senior meal.
