PCA's senior nutrition programs provide access to healthy foods for older adults

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Paid Sponsor Partnership: Philadelphia Corporation for Aging

Brenda Smith comes to the Southwest Senior Center twice a week for the plethora of programming.

"Class on Tuesday morning is my exercise class," says Smith, a member of the Southwest Senior Center. "I need to be with people. They motivate me."

"We typically do keep a packed schedule," says Malekka Dade, Center Director of Southwest Senior Center. "It's things that'll keep them sharp mentally, physically."

One of the big draws is the congregate meal program.

"We have volunteers who operate our kitchen. The meals are actually served fresh, hot every single day," she says. "It's always something healthy."

"It's a balanced meal," says Smith.

Denise Brice is also a member of the Southwest Senior Center who often enjoys lunch there.

"I normally get the cold meals, which is a sandwich or a salad, a fruit and a vegetable every day. And we have milk and a dessert," says Brice. "The food is very good."

And lunch is very much a social hour.

"We're all one big family and I love it here," says Smith.

For older adults who can't visit one of the 28 senior centers across Philadelphia, PCA offers home-delivered meals.

"We are standing in our Meal Distribution Center," says Lauren Jirinec, Assistant Director of Health and Nutrition Services for Philadelphia Corporation for Aging. "We service 3,500 consumers each week."

From this hub in North Philadelphia, individually frozen meals are packed.

Jirinec says the meals include "a protein, a starch and a vegetable."

"In addition, we provide complements, which include fresh fruit, milk, packaged fruit, bread and dessert," she says.

Drivers deliver Monday through Friday across the city to different neighborhoods, with seniors receiving a weekly box. The number of meals that consumers receive each week varies depending on their needs.

"When seniors come through to our program, they are able to receive a set standard frozen meal each week based on a preset menu, or they can choose off of our 'Choice' menu. The 'Choice' menu presents a multitude of options for consumers to choose what meals they like best," says Jirinec.

She says the crab cake option is very popular among consumers, but all the meals offered are "heart healthy and low in salt."

There are poultry options, vegetarian and kosher meals, along with breakfast.

"These meals are provided courtesy of the program that they are enrolled in. There is no cost to the seniors," she says.

If you or someone you know could benefit from PCA's nutrition programs, call PCA's Helpline at 215-765-9040.

"Having access to nutritious meals is especially important as we age," says Jirinec. "It can help with your overall health, independence and productivity."

If you or an older loved one needs access to healthy meals, Philadelphia Corporation for Aging can help. There are 28 senior centers across the city you can join, or inquire about PCA's home-delivered meal program, if that's better suited to your needs.

For more information:

Philadelphia Corporation for Aging Senior Nutrition Programs
Senior Centers
Home-Delivered Meals

Southwest Senior Center
6916 Elmwood Ave. #22
Philadelphia, PA 19142