RHODE ISLAND SENIOR BEAT
RELEASE: Friday, September 19, 2008
BY: Larry Grimaldi, Chief of Information & Public Relations
RESTAURANT PROGRAM ADDS TO SENIOR DINING EXPERIENCE
Q. I am 70 years old and I heard about a senior dining program where people can go and get restaurant meals at a reasonable price. Can you give me some details?
A. You are talking about the Senior Restaurant Program. Through this program, Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island allows seniors 60 and older to go to Chelo's Hometown Bar and Grill at 505 Silver Spring Avenue, IHOP, Pleasant Valley Parkway and the Al Mason Spanish restaurant at 549 Broad Street, all located in Providence.
You must be 60 or older to participate in the program. All you need to participate in the program is a coupon to present to the designated restaurants. Please note that these coupons do not include a gratuity.
Coupons are available at Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island, 70 Bath Street in Providence. The requested donation per coupon is $5. For more information, call Meals on Wheels at 351-6700.
You may select from one of five menu choices to include a starch, vegetable and fruit. Dessert is not included in the price of the voucher and would be an additional cost to the senior.
Vouchers may be used Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The program is designed to for seniors who like to go out for dinner. It also helps seniors get out of the house and socialize.
Meals on Wheels also has volunteer opportunities for several different programs.
Volunteers for Meals on Wheels are always welcome.
Volunteers are wanted for the Ocean State Senior Dining program located at many senior centers and community sites across the state, delivering meals to isolated and frail seniors, or for the Food Pantry or Volunteer guardianship.
For additional information about volunteering opportunities for these programs, call Meals on Wheels at 351-6700.
Senior Journal
The Senior Journal cable television program is devoted to exploring the issues of growing older in Rhode Island through the personal perspectives of seniors.
Programs are produced by senior volunteers and are sponsored by the Department of Elderly Affairs (DEA) with the support of COX Communications. Programs are aired on Sundays at 5:00 p.m., Mondays at 7:00 p.m., and Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m. over statewide Cox Communications channel 13 and Verizon channel 32.
From September 21 to October 7, The Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) and the Senior Medicare Patrol Program (SMP) will air. Libby Arron of Cranston interviews Maria Sansiveri, Health Promotion Coordinator for DEA, Ana Hanley, customer information specialist for DEA and Charlotte Becher, Manager of The Point resource center.
The Department of Elderly Affairs (DEA) was established as a cabinet-level position in 1977 under Rhode Island General Law 42-66-1. DEA is responsible for the development and implementation of a comprehensive system of programs and services for Rhode Islanders age 60 and older. DEA is also the state's single planning and service area agency on aging under the provisions of The Older Americans Act of 1965.
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