By
Shell-Lee Wert
August 31, 2026 at 1:01 p.m.
SENIOR SCENE
Health conversations around older adults tend to revolve around things like memory loss, safety, and managing chronic conditions. All too frequently the issue of “senior nutrition” is overlooked or downplayed. The reality is that ageing can come with changes to your health and your lifestyle that make eating a healthy diet more difficult
Medical conditions and medication can make it challenging to get proper nutrition as you age. Health and medication can affect your ability to exercise to maintain muscle strength and appetite. If mobility issues exist or the senior can no longer drive, shopping for nutritious foods can be a huge obstacle
As a person ages, the body can have a harder time with certain functions, such as maintaining heart health, kidney function, bone regeneration, muscle tone, immunity, and gastrointestinal function. But getting proper nutrition, that includes enough protein and the appropriate amount of vitamins and other nutrients, is an important part of maintaining those systems
So, how can you be sure you or your loved one is getting proper nutrition and prioritizing a healthy diet? First, you need to maintain a regular eating schedule and avoid skipping meals or simply “forgetting” to eat because the usual physical reminders of hunger diminish with time. Secondly you must have adequate supplies. If you cannot manage on your own, investigate online order and delivery services or check with your local senior’s organizations for suggestions
Finally, older adults can make sure they are eating for their maximum health benefit by focusing on a few key dietary needs such as:
· Getting your necessary daily fiber or supplementing it based on input from your healthcare provider
· Reduce your cholesterol and fat intake and make smarter choices by enjoying or preparing food with healthy fats
· Reducing your salt consumption: Season with herbs and other spices and choose foods that are low in sodium
· Limiting “white foods” like white bread, rice and potatoes, which lack long-term nutritional value
· Stay hydrated. Drink six 8-ounce glasses of water or other beverages daily
· Maximizing your vitamin D intake: Increase your exposure to sunlight and eat foods high in vitamin D — such as fatty fish, canned tuna, egg yolks, cereal or supplements (per approval from your healthcare provider)
Despite my sincere interest in senior nutrition, I will confess I have an ulterior motive for writing this column. Although I do want to impress upon seniors and their support circle of care that appropriate nutrition is a critical ingredient in the recipe for good health, I also want to put out a plea for volunteers to help agencies like CCSH make this happen
During the last fiscal year, the Belleville Meals on Wheels program supported 575 community members through the home delivery of nutritious hot and frozen meals. In total there were 33,518 units of hot meals recorded and 39,402 units of frozen meals delivered for a whopping total of 72,920 units. That is an amazing amount of nutritious food for the most vulnerable in our community
Here is the dilemma – we have the capacity to provide the meals, but we do not have the capacity to deliver them without the support of our community. We rely on volunteers and sadly we are lacking reliable meal delivery volunteers and may not be able to continue our level of senior nutrition support. If you or someone you know has a vehicle and an hour or two per week to spare, we need your help. For more information email me or call Amanda at 613-969-0130 to see how you can help preserve this crucial service.
Information in this column is compiled by Shell-Lee Wert, CCSH, 470 Dundas Street East, Unit 63, Belleville, K8N 1G1. Please visit our website at https://ccsh.ca or email me at shell-leew@ccsh.ca, or call 613-969-0130 or 613-396-6591 for information and assistance. Community Care is a proud United Way member agency. Funding in part from Ontario Health East
