013. Chefs for Seniors: a service providing nutritious food and companionship
There are 2 common reasons seniors move to senior living: not eating properly and the need for companionship. Chefs for Seniors addresses both.
Dr. Shaneka Baylor is a franchise owner with Chefs for Seniors in Arlington / Grand Prairie. She’s a board-certified geriatric and ambulatory care clinical pharmacist and certified diabetes educator with the motto “Healthy eating can be tasty.”
Though she worked as a pharmacist for 12 years, her desire to serve the senior community through food led her to combine her passions. Chefs for Seniors gives peace of mind to seniors by creating delicious and nutritious meals that can be customized to address a variety of dietary concerns. Dr. Baylor noticed when she was a pharmacist that many chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes can be helped with the right diet.
Chefs for Seniors makes it easy, starting with a consultation to get an idea of the individual’s needs, as well as an in-home assessment. Chefs come with their own equipment to the home and meal preps for the week - also providing seniors a great opportunity to connect with another person and weigh in on their meals.
Takeaways:
- Chefs for Seniors is a great option for those who have had surgery, need help with nutrition or simply want to avoid grocery stores.
- It can be a short- or long-term solution; there are no contracts.
- The standard service includes 5 weeks of rotating meals where you can choose 4 menu items from among 12 options each week. Each meal offers multiple portions.
- Meals are labeled so you know if it’s dairy-free, gluten-free, kosher, etc. Plus, custom meal plans are available for those with health issues and allergies.
- Chefs can connect with doctors and dieticians to help create an individual meal plan.
- Due to COVID-19, chefs take special safety measures: wearing masks, wiping down commonly touched surfaces, maintaining 6 feet of distance and much more.
- Chefs spend roughly 2 hours cooking and talking with you each week about what works and what doesn’t, how to reheat food, and even how to make your favorite dishes from childhood.
- Long-term care insurance may reimburse you for this service.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- How Chefs for Seniors works
- The importance of diet and nutrition
- Diet and chronic diseases / conditions
- Companionship and routine
- How COVID-19 has affected this service
To connect to Dr. Shaneka and to learn more about Chefs for Seniors Arlington & Grand Prairie please visit:
https://chefsforseniors.com/arlington-grand-prairie-tx
https://www.facebook.com/Chefs-for-Seniors-2368403996704495
Dr. Shaneka Baylor:
469-476-2420
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