A Sarnia-based home care business is encouraging residents to enjoy meals with older adults to help improve their overall nutrition and reduce feelings of isolation and depression.
Home Instead owner Victoria Chalmers said lack of connection affects a senior's daily behavior.
"Not having proper meals, we've called that the tea and toast diet," said Chalmers. "When seniors are alone, or it's just them and their spouse, what's the easiest thing to do? We'll just make some tea and toast and that just doesn't have the nutritional value to sustain health for them."
Chalmers said the pandemic has led to even poorer diets.
A survey from Home Instead found that 28 per cent of lonely Canadian seniors graded their diet as a C, compared to only 16 per cent of seniors who didn't feel lonely.
"Even if it's not your loved one, even if it's your neighbour, and there's a very safe way to provide some companionship during mealtime, whether that's on a front porch, you can deliver a small meal to them and visit with them outside while they're eating. You should try to reintroduce companionship with seniors that you know as quickly and as often as possible."
Chalmers said research shows these visits, even if it's only 30 minutes, will elevate a seniors mood and their desire to eat.
"[Seniors] will eat more if they're with somebody, they will eat better if they're with somebody, and they will have more meals."
Home Instead has shared recipes, tips and resources designed to inspire seniors and caregivers to make healthier choices, which can be found online at www.HomeInstead.ca/CompanionshipDiet