The Los Angeles Post

Everytable Serves Los Angeles Seniors with Free, Nutritious Meals Through the City of LA’s Rapid Response Senior Meals Program

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Seniors living in the city of Los Angeles, who are 60 and older and are in need of additional food support, are encouraged to sign up to receive a weekly delivery of five restaurant-quality meals directly to their homes.

 

LOS ANGELES, March 18, 2024 – Everytable, the mission-driven company making nutritious food accessible to everyone, everywhere, has once again partnered with the city of Los Angeles to ensure that seniors in need can receive fresh, nutritious meals straight to their homes through the Rapid Response Senior Meals Program. Residents of the city of Los Angeles who are at least 60 years old, and have a need for additional food support are encouraged to visit Everytable.com/ETS to learn more about how to receive five, fresh Everytable meals delivered on a weekly basis and sign up for the city’s program.

 

“We’ve learned first hand just how difficult it can be for seniors to travel to obtain fresh food and how detrimental it can be when seniors lack access to healthy, nutritious meals,” said Sam Polk, CEO and founder of Everytable. “The changing economy continues to create hardships for many, especially the elderly population in Los Angeles, and that’s why we’re encouraging all those who are eligible, to sign up for this free program and to help spread the word.”

 

Eligibility, How to Sign Up and Start Receiving Everytable Meals for Free

In order to qualify for the program, applicants must:

  • Reside in the city of Los Angeles

  • Be at least 60 years old

  • Have a need for additional food support

 

Interested seniors and their caretakers can visit Everytable.com/ETS to learn more about the program and submit an application via the city’s Department of Aging. Alternatively, an application can be submitted by calling the Department of Aging at (213) 202-5669, or by sending an email to [email protected].

 

The application consists of a few questions surrounding contact information and demographics. No proof of income or additional paperwork is required. Seniors should indicate they want to receive meal deliveries from Everytable in order to receive the fresh, restaurant quality meals that are available in Everytable’s 35 retail locations in Southern California.  Upon completion of the application, eligible seniors will be automatically enrolled and should start receiving meal deliveries within one to three weeks.

 

History of the Senior Meals Programs

Rapid Response Senior Meals is the revival of the pandemic-era Emergency Senior Meals program necessitated by social distancing measures. Everytable served as the primary partner at the onset of the program and delivered more than five million meals to 15,000 seniors who were sheltering at home. The COVID program ended in January 2023, but the city recognized the urgent need to continue serving seniors as the rise of inflation, coupled with the end of other pandemic-era support programs, created additional hardships.

 

Seniors and Food Insecurity

According to research from Feeding America, 7.1% of seniors in America were food insecure in 2021 and seniors with a disability had food insecurity rates over twice as high as seniors without disabilities (13.4% compared to 5.0%). A study published by USC Dornslife, notes that in Los Angeles County specifically, 3 in 10 households experienced food insecurity in 2023, and food insecurity disproportionately impacts communities of color with rates “more than two times higher among Hispanic/ Latino (38%) and Black/African American (38%) residents, compared to white residents (16%).”

 

Feeding America also lists transportation problems as a main reason leading to higher hunger risks for seniors which can have adverse effects on those whose only option for free meals involves traveling to food pantries and community centers. Traditional Meals on Wheels programs require that a senior be homebound or too frail to shop and cook for themselves, and they can often have long waiting lists. The Department of Aging estimates that approximately 5,000 seniors in Los Angeles fall between the cracks of traditional senior food programs due to these kinds of issues.

 

The Detrimental Effects of Food Insecurity on Seniors
The National Council on Aging shares that not having enough wholesome food can create harmful health effects, especially in older adults, such as:

  • Lower nutrient intakes such as protein, vitamins A and C, magnesium, calcium and iron, which can lead to malnutrition, vitamin deficiencies and chronic diseases.

  • Seniors who are food insecure are 65% more likely to be diabetic and more likely to suffer from conditions such as congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, asthma, obesity and gum disease.

  • A higher risk for mental health issues and adverse effects on psychological well being.

 

Seniors Are the Fastest Growing Homeless Population in California

  • According to CalMatters, seniors are the fastest growing homeless population in Los Angeles and they are the most expensive to provide services for.

  • From 2017 to 2021, California’s overall senior population grew by 7% but the number of people 55 and over who sought homelessness services increased 84% —  more than any other age group —  according to the state’s Homeless Data Integration System. For comparison, the number of people accessing homelessness services across all ages increased 43% during this time period.

  • Providing more food resources to seniors helps stave off health issues and cognitive decline that can stem from food insecurity and can contribute to losing housing, according to research published in the Journal of Nutrition.