VCU partners with UnitedHealthcare to provide free weekly student-catered meals to local seniors

Share this story

UnitedHealthcare has joined forces with Virginia Commonwealth University to help reduce hunger and social isolation among seniors. On Oct. 27, the nation’s largest health insurer will donate $25,000 to VCU School of Nursing to fund free weekly student-catered meals at three senior apartment communities. Funding from the grant will also be utilized to increase the variety and nutritional value of seniors’ diet through cooking demonstrations and healthy eating education programs.

The grant will be announced at 11:30 a.m. at Dominion Place (1025 W. Grace St.), one of the senior communities that participate in VCU’s community-based care coordination initiative, the Richmond Health and Wellness Program. After the announcement, meals will be prepared and served to residents by VCU students, faculty and staff, along with UnitedHealthcare employees. 

Through the Richmond Health and Wellness Program, VCU students conduct weekly clinics at housing facilities across the metro Richmond area. At the clinics, residents meet with a team of health care providers to discuss unmet health needs and the interdisciplinary teams of VCU students and faculty work together with the residents to overcome health barriers. The program includes faculty and students from VCU Schools of Nursing, MedicinePharmacy and Social Work, as well as the Department of Psychology in the College of Humanities and Sciences

“We have seen a tremendous response by the residents in learning more about healthy living,” said Pamela Parsons, Ph.D., associate professor at the VCU School of Nursing and director of the Richmond Health and Wellness Program. “The grant from UnitedHealthcare will help support our programs and services that provide healthy meals, nutrition education and other resources to improve the lives of seniors.” Parsons also serves as the director of practice and community engagement at the School of Nursing.

Along with the weekly meals, cooking demonstrations and education programs, the grant will help VCU students identify seniors who may be eligible to enroll in a Meals on Wheels program or to participate in FeedMore’s Commodities Supplemental Food Program. The Richmond Health and Wellness Program will also provide referrals to day programs and other resources from the local Area Agency on Aging. 

According to the 2016 America’s Health Ranking Senior Report®, about 14 percent of adults in Virginia over the age of 60 have experienced the threat of hunger during the past 12 months. The grant is part of UnitedHealthcare’s effort to identify and support organizations in Virginia that help seniors, disadvantaged individuals and people with disabilities live healthier lives.

“UnitedHealthcare is grateful for the opportunity to support VCU and the Richmond Health and Wellness Program that is helping seniors in our community live healthier lives,” said Timothy Spilker, regional CEO, UnitedHealthcare Community & State.