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2009 Can Do Awards Dinner to benefit Food Bank Of New York at Chelsea Piers. New York, 2009.
In New York City, one of the richest cities in the world, food poverty is around every corner. Throughout the five boroughs, approximately 1.3 million people — largely comprised of women, children, seniors, the working poor and people with disabilities — rely on soup kitchens and food pantries. In addition, the number of New Yorkers experiencing difficulty affording food for themselves and their families has doubled to approximately four million since 2003.
Food poverty in New York City results from problems affording or accessing needed food. Low-income New Yorkers often have to make choices between providing enough food for themselves or their families and paying the month’s rent or utility bills. With food prices steadily rising, difficulty affording groceries among New Yorkers with already stretched budgets has reached crisis levels. The steadily rising cost of living is also being felt by middle-income New Yorkers, who are increasingly experiencing difficulty affording food. Meanwhile, a number of financial pressures — including health issues, health insurance issues and low wages — continue to affect New Yorkers with low to moderate incomes.
In addition to financial problems, low-income neighborhoods throughout New York City are characterized by a lack of affordable, nutritious food. Add to that equation chronically stretched budgets and the prevalence of low-cost, low-quality food and it is easy to understand the challenges of leading a truly healthy lifestyle in many neighborhoods — which lead to high concentrations of diet-related conditions such as diabetes, obesity and hypertension.
Health Fair at Wilmington Senior Center
Image by Christiana Care
Atherleen Gooding wants her body to last a long time, so she takes good care of it.
She is 66 and has been lifting weights for 35 years. She walks three miles every day. She eats lots of fruits and vegetables and has given up red meat.
To make certain her hard work is paying off, she attended the health fair sponsored by Christiana Care at the Wilmington Senior Center. Gooding received free screenings for bone density, diabetes and hypertension, as well as a flu shot.
“It’s good to get tested on a regular basis,” she said. “You can find out if there is a problem and take care of it right away.”
The event took place on Oct. 27, which is Make a Difference Day, an annual observance in which citizens are encouraged to band together to help other people.
Carmen Campbell receives a free blood-glucose screening, which tests for diabetes, at the Wilmington Senior Center health fair.
Christiana Care makes health care convenient and accessible to people in the community all year round through its outreach and education programs. By removing barriers to care, people can get the help they need when illnesses are in their earliest, most treatable stages.
People also can learn to prevent diseases through healthy behaviors, such as not smoking and practicing safe sex.
Deborah Hassler, an advanced practice nurse who treats trauma patients at Christiana Care, says texting and driving is a dangerous practice that contributes to accidents and serious injuries that are sometimes fatal.
“We are here to make people aware of just how serious this problem is and to ask people to sign a pledge that they will not text while driving,” she said.
Attendees also could learn their body mass index, or BMI, an indicator of obesity, as well as tips on starting an exercise regimen. Christiana Care residents gave quizzes on suggested portion sizes in a nutritious diet. For example, a serving of meat should be no larger than a deck of cards.
“How big should that serving of cheddar cheese be?” asked Amit Patel, M.D.
The answer: the equivalent of four dice.
In all, more than a dozen residents and attending physicians participated in the day’s events, including staffing Ask the Doctor tables, where people could get answers to common questions about health and wellness.
There were two presentations: Ina Li, M.D., a gerontologist who operates a Christiana Care practice at the Wilmington Senior Center, discussed how to age gracefully. Karla Testa, M.D., and Himani Divatia, M.D., two residents at Christiana Care, talked about health and wellness for all ages.
Linda Brennan-Jones, a Christiana Care social worker, connected people at the health fair to resources, including homeless shelters and the Community Access Healthcare Program or CHAP, which provides discounted care for people who don’t have insurance. Attendees who don’t have a primary care provider were linked with a medical home where they can receive routine care.
Seniors were encouraged to bring friends and relatives to the event.
“A lot of grandparents are raising children, so we are reaching out to people in all age groups,” Jones said.
Doris Murphy, 81, of Wilmington, took home information on screenings for colorectal cancer. She had her heel scanned—a quick, painless screening designed to detect bone loss—and was reassured that her bone health is good.
“Knowledge is power,” said Stacy Adams, a Christiana Care radiologic technologist certified in bone-density testing. “If someone gets a negative result here, we refer them for a more extensive test.”
As for Gooding, she learned that her lifestyle is paying off. Her bones are strong, and her blood pressure and blood glucose are at healthy levels.
“I’m happy that I came,” she said. “It only takes a few minutes to get screened—and now I have peace of mind.”
FARMER’S MARKET FRUIT
Image by whirledkid
