Dayton, OH (PRWEB) Comfort Keepers® franchises across the nation are taking action during September – Hunger Action Month – to raise awareness of issues around senior nutrition through Comfort Keepers® STOP Senior Hunger food drives and educational events.
"Seniors go hungry every day in our country, and our caregivers see first-hand how inadequate nutrition can diminish independence in seniors," said Jim Booth, CEO of CK Franchising, Inc., the franchisor of Comfort Keepers in-home caregiving services, which is known for its unique Interactive Caregiving™ philosophy. "We want to take this opportunity to help raise awareness of seniors at risk for hunger and malnutrition in the communities we serve."
STOP Senior Hunger addresses a growing problem for older Americans. Today, millions of seniors experience some form of hunger, according to the Meals on Wheels Association of America. The organization also projects that by 2025, an estimated 9.5 million senior Americans will experience some form of hunger – about 75 percent higher than the number in 2005.
Hunger is a sustained, severe form of malnutrition that for seniors, can lead to the potential for increased hospital stays, health complications, early entry into facilities or premature death. Comfort Keepers helps improve seniors' access to food with activities, such as taking seniors to grocery stores or farmers' markets, helping prepare meals according to doctor's guidelines and providing mealtime socialization.
"If we can raise community awareness of the signs to watch for relating to senior hunger and malnutrition, we can all do our part to help them stay mentally, physically, emotionally and socially engaged so they can enjoy a higher quality of life and live independently longer," said Booth.
In addition to food drives throughout the country, Comfort Keepers' independently owned and operated offices are also hosting lunch and learns, participating in health fairs and sponsoring group meals to help raise awareness for issues that affect seniors.
Comfort Keepers® is a leading franchise network in the in-home care market for senior and other adults needing care. Since its founding in 1998, the company has grown to more than 600 franchised locations around the world by staying true to the founders' goal of providing in-home care services that allow clients the opportunity to age in place. In August of 2009, the brand was strengthened even further by the purchase of the franchisor, CK Franchising, Inc., by Sodexo, one of the world's leading food and facilities management services companies and the global leader in the health care and seniors markets.
Comfort Keepers® is dedicated to providing in-home care to seniors and others who need help with activities of daily living.