by Dr. Biju Mathew/Special to The News
During my tenure as a physician in Maple Ridge, I’ve been very impressed with the services and programs offered by our local Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows Community Services.
Through the years, many have paid glowing accolades to the Meals on Wheels program run by community services. Recently, and over a two-day period, I set out to discover more about the workings of this widely applauded meal program.
At the onset, I was greeted by Joanne Leginus, director of administration and services at community service. Since 1982, she’s been an invaluable resource, and has seen the operation grow to its present level.
Her face lit up with pride, as she discussed the humble, yet ground-breaking beginnings of the Meals and Wheels program. She dug up an article published in The Gazette from Nov. 1, 1972 that explained, “The goal was to serve people who, for any reason, are unable to prepare adequate meals for themselves. It is hoped that the service will enable the people it serves to remain independent in their homes.”
Initially, the meals were prepared at Ridge Meadows Hospital and transported in insulated containers, so they were delivered hot by volunteer drivers. There were about 20 customers then.
This led me next to meet Christine Cavalaris, the Meals on Wheels program coordinator and senior navigator. She’s been in her current position for over five years.
Christine has an encyclopedic knowledge of the people she serves. Her impressive awareness of their needs and sufferings helps her serve and guide a team of volunteer drivers to deliver food on time, as well as with compassion and love.
Her personal touch is magical.
There are currently 30 volunteer drivers who deliver meals from Monday to Friday. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., they deliver to more than 70 destinations.
The food is carefully prepared under the supervision of Grace Nunnichoven in the seniors centre.
Four staff prepare 70-100 nutritious, portioned meals a day, in a spotless kitchen, with a very high hygienic standard monitored by Fraser Health. Individual dietary limitations, such as food allergies and vegetarian needs are taken into account.
The menu boasts a soup, salad, meat/fish, potatoes, and a side dish. It is topped with milk and a dessert.
Meal preparation is complete by 10:30 a.m. It includes packing the food into disposable containers and a paper bag.
Rodger White, aged 77 years, is a volunteer driver who’s been with the program for 18 years.
After retiring from a gold mining company, he took a liking to volunteer work, delivering food to school children. Currently, Rodger serves nine clients, three days a week and drives for one and a half hours per day.
His dedication is truly heartening, and it was clear that his service goes beyond simply dropping off meals – he is a source of companionship and support for many of his elderly clients.
There are difficult and down sides to Rodger’s services.
Losing around 15 clients were all difficult when they occurred. He gets anxious when a frail elderly client does not open the door on time. There were even times when he had to call for medical help.
He also steps in when a client seeks assistance in fixing the TV or addressing a malfunctioning wheelchair. For some, he sets up lunch on a dining table and cuts up meat if required.
He is also touched by people suffering from severe arthritis, which disables them from satisfactory mobility.
He has found fridges full of food, needing further action from his supervisor. Once he called 9-1-1 for medical assistance for a lady with a fractured pelvis. He also does safety checks such as making sure that the phone is working.
Families send Rodger thank you cards, and these gestures keep him going. Currently, Rodger has no plans to retire any time soon.
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Peter Prego Tanner is an admired driver who’s originally from Switzerland.
When he first went to the Canadian embassy to obtain a short-term tourist visa, he did not foresee a future in Canada.
The Canadian official informed him that he had sufficient points to get a permanent residency. He took his chances in 1972.
He had a long stint working as a baker at North Vancouver’s Venice Bakery for 20 years. He later became a tour guide until retiring in 2013.
The past three years with his local Meals on Wheels [duties] have been very fulfilling for him.
He drives five days a week and serves nine clients. Much to the delight of his customers, two to three times a week Peter takes his pet dog along for deliveries.
His face lights up with pride as he explains that he’s paid .61cents/mile which he donates right back to community services.
Peter reminded me about the historical perspective. The concept of Meals on Wheels originally came from the Victorian Order of Nurses.
He is very conscious of his client’s living environments. In addition to delivering food, he gives a hand tidying up their living spaces, and oh yes, sometimes even cleaning up dog poop. On one occasion he had to call 9-1-1, but was delighted with a happy ending!
On this trip I also met with Monica Seidel, a client of Meals on Wheels services.
Monica is a delightful lady who loves to talk. She also loves her interactions with Christine periodically. Monica said.
“Excellent food is served three days a week. It gives me a degree of freedom and flexibility in not having to do shopping and cooking at my age,” she shared.
Instead she goes out for walks and enjoys interacting with people around her. The time that is saved on cooking tasks, is used to focus on her health needs.
Another client, Edith, is 85 years old and uses a walker to get around. Currently she is grieving the loss of her husband, and is happy to have her granddaughter providing support.
“Meals on Wheels is what I need with limited mobility among other things,” she said, while paying gratitude to Christine.
Christine and her team do more than what they are meant to do. They help clients fill in applications, help with computers, check on alarm systems, and assist with paying bills.
Occasionally some folks just cannot afford to pay $10.71 for a meal. When essential, the team delivers free of cost.
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To test the quality of food, I ordered lunches on three different days.
Wow! So tasty, well-balanced and well-priced. And definitely far below the cost of a hamburger from a fast food outlet.
Most of all, this invaluable service helps our seniors live independently in their own surroundings for longer periods. For many seniors staying in their environment is… priceless!
I wish to express my gratitude to Joanne, Christine, and their team for the important work they do with our local Meals and Wheels program.
– Dr. Biju Mathew (FRCPC, DFCPA) is a psychiatrist at Ridge Meadows Hospital. He’s also a clinical professor with the department of psychiatry at UBC, and is the author of the bestselling biography “Super 30.”
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