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Mayors for Meals

Mayors from Orem, Provo, Lehi and American Fork all delivered meals with our volunteers for Mayors For Meals Day, a national event part of Meals-on-Wheels Association of America's March For Meals.

The Mayors each met at their local city senior centers. The seniors were beyond thrilled about the special VIP visitors.

A big thank you to our Mayors who took time out of their busy schedules to brighten up the day of our seniors!

Mayor Curtis with a MOW client in Provo.

Mayor Hadfield delivers meals to a Earl in American Fork.

Mayor Washburn delivered meals to Nell in Orem.

Mayor Wilson delivered meals to Wesley in Lehi.

Thank you, Mayors!
We had a wonderful day!

Have you seen your newspaper this morning? Visit The Daily Herald and The Daily Universe for coverage on the event.

For more pictures, visit our Facebook page.

More than just meals

 The Mountainland Area Agency on Aging provides services to help seniors and their families. Our most popular program is Meals-on-Wheels, but many seniors need more than just food assistance.

We offer non-medical in-home services to help keep seniors living safely and independently. These services are available in Utah, Wasatch and Summit counties. Services are designed to help seniors who may be at risk of nursing placement to remain at home and prolong independent living. 

The following types of assistance may be available:

• Adult Day Care
• Adult Residential Services
• Assistive Technology Devices
• Attendant Program
• Caregiver Training
• Chore Services
• Consumer Preparation Services
• Emergency Response Systems
• Environmental Accessibility Adaptations
• Financial Management Services
• Habilitation services
• Home Delivered Meals
• Homemaker Services
• Institutional Transition Services
• Medication Assistance Services
• Non-Medical Transportation
• Personal Budget Assistance
• Specialized Behavioral Health services
• Specialized Medical Equipment
• Supportive Maintenance
• Personal Emergency Response Systems
• Durable Medical Equipment Program services are based on the availability of funding

Call 801-229-3804 for more information on eligibility. 

March Fall Prevention Classes

NEW FALL PREVENTION CLASSES

Many older people have had a fall experience that has shaken their confidence and may have resulted in injury. Older people understand that the threat of a fall can be a barrier to safely doing all the things they want to do at home and to "Stepping On" confidently in the community. The prevention of falls is vital to maintaining personal independence.

A new (and FREE) falls prevention class called "Stepping On" will be held in two locations starting in March. The program includes 7 classes, a home visit, and a follow-up 3-month booster session. Locations are listed below after a few more things you may want to know about the classes.

Stepping On is a well-researched falls prevention program:

• The results were published in the September 2004 issue of the American Geriatrics Society.
• More than one third of adults 65 or over fall each year.
• Among older adults falls are the leading cause of injury, hospital admissions for trauma and death.
• 35% of people who fall become less active.

Topics:

• Become more aware of fall hazards and learn how your fall risk can be reduced.
• Simple and fun balance and strength training exercises.
• The role vision plays in keeping your balance.
• How medication can contribute to falls.
• Ways to stay safe when out and about in your community.
• What to look for in safe footwear.
• How to check your home for safety.

Who can benefit:

• anyone 65 years or over (caregiver welcome to accompany their loved one)
• Is fearful of falling
• Has had a fall in the past year
• Living at home
• Not suffering from dementia

Meet a volunteer: Elvin

Elvin shares a few laughs with Wes every week.

With a smile on his face and meals in his arms, Elvin has delivered meals to homebound seniors in Lehi for more than four years. He was one of the first volunteers for the Meals-on-Wheels program in Utah County. He started the volunteer route in Lehi and continues to deliver meals to some of the same seniors with who he started.

But for Elvin it is more than just running through the motions of delivering meals.

“I don’t even remember how telling jokes each week began,” says Elvin. “I started looking up two or three jokes before I go. These folks don’t have a lot to laugh about, but they are kind enough to laugh at my jokes. These jokes are expected now.”

It isn’t just Elvin’s desire to make people smile that makes him special. Elvin goes above and beyond his Meals-on-Wheels volunteer duties. He changes hard to reach light bulbs, runs light errands and other tasks all beyond the call of duty. But he claims the benefits go both ways.

“It is as good for me as it is for them,” says Elvin. “I look forward to it every week. I just love them; they are like family.”

Many seniors on Elvin’s route have called into the Meals-on-Wheels office over the years to thank him for his service. One of the clients he has delivered to since he started volunteering says that she lives for him to come and visit her. In the weeks before she passed away in late January 2011, Elvin kept close contact with her family and continued to visit her at home, even after she stopped receiving meals and went on hospice.

His love for people extends beyond just helping Meals-on-Wheels seniors. He is known as the handy man in his neighborhood and is constantly fixing things for people who cannot fix it themselves. Elvin is also a member of RSVP or Retired Senior Volunteer Program.

“He is very giving,” said Jane, his wife of 36 years. “He is very happy and optimistic and hardly ever gets down. He just does things for people, always thinking of things he can do.”

An Idaho native, Elvin moved south to study family relations and child development at Utah State University where he was voted Most Preferred Man by the local sororities. He spent his career in sales and marketing and has owned many of his own businesses. He is now semi-retired, still working part time and delivering meals on his time off.

Elvin and Jane live in Lehi. They have two children and six grandchildren.

Thanks for being such an amazing volunteer. We couldn't do it without you!

Senior Day at the Legislature

Photo found here.

Earlier this month more than 300 seniors gathered at the Capitol to let legislators that senior funding won't get cut without a fight. As part of the annual Seniors Day at the Legislature, seniors are invited and encouraged to participate in a question-and-answer with several lawmakers, and to remind lawmakers that seniors are actively involved in the fight for funding. Without the

Check out The Salt Lake Tribune article about the event.

New volunteer route in Santaquin

Ready to make a difference? Volunteer drivers are needed to start a new route in Santaquin. All delivery days are available.

Meals-on-Wheels volunteer drivers deliver hot, nutritious lunchtime meals to homebound seniors in our community. Along with each meal, volunteers provide a special touch of comfort and a daily safety check enabling seniors to be independent in their own homes.

Volunteers deliver meals once a week during their lunch hour. Meals are picked up at drop off locations throughout Utah and Wasatch counties and are delivered by volunteers between 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each week day, excluding holidays. There are eight to twelve seniors on a route and each route takes approximately 30 minutes to one hour to complete. Volunteer opportunities are available for regular drivers as well as substitute drivers.

For more information, call Stephanie at 801-229-3821 or visit www.mountainland.org/volunteer.