The Milestones Area Agency on Aging is a service provider, designed to help seniors in a variety of ways. With offices located in Burlington, Davenport, and Ottumwa, they have established themselves as one of the top senior service providers in Iowa. When it comes to important services for seniors, one of the first things that comes to my mind is nutrition. Nutrition and having access to healthy and wholesome food is not always easy to come by. Especially when individuals age, there may not be as much motivation and desire to cook nutrition meals, compared to when they were younger. The Milestones Area Agency on Aging helps to combat this issue, by offering a few different meal service options for older adults. In addition, we will also touch on a few of their fitness opportunities as well. Let’s take a look at a few of them.
The Milestones Area Agency on Aging Nutrition Services
Meal Sites
If you are a senior who is looking for high quality food, at a reasonable price, then you are in luck. The Milestones meal sites offer you the ability to visit a dedicated location to not only recieve a meal, but socialize with locals in the community. Meal sites are located throughout the following counties in Iowa: Appanoose, Clinton, Davis, Des Moines, Henry, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lee, Louisa, Lucas, Mahaska, Monroe, Muscatine, Scott, Van Buren, Wapello, and Wayne. Some of the sites include lunch and learn presenters or even games to play. The meals are for individuals 60 or older with an annual registration need. In addition, it is recommended to register for specific meals 2 days ahead of time. The suggested donation amount for the meals are only $5 a meal, with the precedent that no one will be turned away due to income. An important thing to note, is that menus cover 1/3 of the daily recommended nutritional intake guidelines by the Iowa Department of Aging. Lastly, if you would like to donate meals to seniors, you can do this through there website as well.
Home Delivered Meals
Home delivered meals come from the meal site kitchens, and are offered for older adults who are not able to prepare their own meals or visit the meals sites. The meals for these can be funded through Medicaid or by a non-spouse caregiver. If you do not have the financial means to pay for these, contribution meals are offered to individuals who are home bound, with a devastating disability, not allowing them to care for themselves on their own. Just like the meal sites, the suggested meal contribution is $5 dollars. This service is available for individuals who are near one of the meal site locations.
Nutrition Counseling
Free nutrition counseling is offered for individuals looking to improve their health and wellness behaviors when eating. The topics will be covered by a licensed dietitian, with experience working with individuals 60 or older. The topics of the counseling can involve blood sugar management, treatment of high blood pressure, heart health, healthy eating on a budget, and nutrition for pain management.
The Milestones Area Agency on Aging Exercise and Wellness Services
Matter of Balance
Matter of balance is an 8 week course, designed to help improve your balance, and evaluate any concerns around your home that may be a fall risk. The program is once a week, and covers a variety of topics including instructional videos, problem solving when it comes to balance, home safety evaluations, discussions with a group, and of course numerous ways to improve overall coordination, balance, and strength.
Tai Chi for Arthritis/Falls Prevention
Tai Chi is a great way to improve steadiness on your feet, and learn to be present in your own body. The program lasts 1 hour, and is usually based on an 8-16 week program basis. The class includes slow, and gentle movements designed to practice balance, help reduce any pain, increase strength, and even improve mobility in a standing position. I personally have never done this class, but know many older adults who do this, and they all enjoy that it is low impact, and challenges your balance well.
Better Choices Better Health
Better choices, better health is a 6 week program that is designed to help older adults navigate their health and wellness patterns. The class teaches about ways to self manage their health concerns, and offers coping strategies to deal with conditions such as diabetes, chronic pain, strokes, high blood pressure, and even heart disease. The class will help navigate seniors in recognizing problems, making tough decisions, and planning to take some change.
If you are interested in finding out more about any of these services, visit the The Milestones Area Agency on Aging here to find the most up to date information.
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