Food for Thought for Seniors

Published: 2020
By Ardis Oelkers

A newsletter “Food for Thought for Seniors” was developed for senior citizens who could no longer meet in person for lunch at the congregate meal sites throughout Roosevelt County due to the coronavirus pandemic. The newsletter is a cooperative effort between MSU Extension and Aging Services in the county. The intent of the newsletter is to provide educational and uplifting information, resources, and activities for those who could no longer be together and socialize during congregate meals. Since April 1, cooks and assistants have been placing a newsletter with each of the meals that are picked up from sites in Bainville, Culbertson, Froid and Wolf Point. A total of 34 volumes and 3740 copies of the newsletter have been written and distributed to the senior population in Roosevelt County. A survey to gather information for future editions was included in recent newsletters. Fifty percent of the people indicated they would like to receive the newsletter four times per month and indicated that 1 -10 wellness challenges were completed. Survey participants unanimously recommended that the Exercise Your Brain – Word Search activity continue to be included in the newsletter. Ideas for recipes and future topics were also determined from the survey results. One person stated they would like to receive recipes that can be made for one or two people and another person called the Extension office and indicated they read through the MontGuides on wills that had been referenced in a newsletter and the MontGuides were sent to their home. The “Food for Thought for Seniors” newsletter keeps seniors informed, educated, and connected to resources that are available to read at their leisure in the comfort and safety of their home during the pandemic.