Health Center programs return in February

The Kanesatake Health Center (KHC) will fully restart Meals on Wheels and the Elders’ Luncheon in February after both programs underwent restructuring this month.

Gloria Nelson, the in-home support manager at the Kanesatake Health Center (KHC) who oversees the program, said many community members have been enquiring about when the programs would re-start.

“I could say this is well liked and appreciated by the participants. Keeping in mind the high cost of food today, the meals certainly help them,” said Nelson.

The Elders’ Luncheon, a bi-weekly public meal served every second Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., will restart on Wednesday, February 4, confirmed Nelson. Meals on Wheels, a weekly delivery of two meals for each person subscribed to the program, will fully restart on Tuesday, February 10.

Both programs have had to pivot after a cook retired this month, said Nelson.

On January 7, the health centre informed the community in a Facebook post that both programs would be restructuring and that the centre would inform the community as soon as they reschedule.

The centre has since hired a new cook for the program, moved locations for the meal prepping, bought new cooking equipment, and cleaned out the new kitchen the cook will use. Previously, the former cook had made all the meals from her home with her own equipment.

The Meals on Wheels program serves mostly elders, but also includes families with newborns, vulnerable community members who are hospitalized, or a family whose loved one has passed on. At times, as many as 86 meals have been prepared and delivered.

“We have clients that may be going through chemo, handicap, or short-term clients needing meals to support their needs for a one-time need or until they get re-established with whatever their issue is at the time,” said Nelson. “All clients qualifying for Meals on Wheels are pre-assessed by a nurse, social worker, mental health worker, other departments, and then referred to me so I can register them on our list.”

The Elders’ Luncheon helps elders connect with family and the community, said Nelson. As part of the luncheons, Elders can also go on short trips or participate in workshops on topics like elder abuse, falls prevention, health and safety concerns, fraud prevention, and painting.

Examples of outings for elders include one to Montebello wildlife park Parc Omega and the Christmas luncheon, once again held at a sugar shack – last year’s edition saw 110 participants attend an event entertained by Elvis impersonator Sylvain Leduc.

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