County Programs Help Seniors Get Proper Nutrition

Many seniors who may need assistance with preparing meals or have a hard time getting to the store to shop for food may not realize that Bergen County offers both the program, which has headquarters in Westwood, for homebound seniors who do not have assistance with meal preparation and also a senior lunch program at 26 locations in the county.

The county Meals on Wheels Program is designed for homebound seniors age 60 or older which allows them to maintain their health through good nutrition while also helping them remain in their community with some independence and dignity. The qualificiations for this program are: must be age 60 or older, homebound, unable to shop and prepare their own meals and live alone with no one to assist with meals.

Meals are delivered mid-day Monday through Friday and consist of an entrée– meat, vegetable and potato–and juice, milk, bread and dessert. Nutritionists will plan the meals based on recommended nutrients. A donation of $1.25 a day is asked.

The Senior Lunch nutrition program, geared toward active adults, provides well-balanced meals, fosters social interaction and provides access to other supportive services available to county seniors. Participants must be age 60 or older, or be the spouse of a participant.

The lunch is served Monday to Friday at the locations listed below. Reservations one day in advance are requested.

Bergenfield Senior Activity Center
Brookside Gardens
293 Murray Hill Terrace; 201-387-7212

Cliffside Park Senior Activity Center
550 Gorge Road; 201-943-3768

East Rutherford
Southwest Regional Senior Activity Center
147 Hackensack St.; 201-935-8920

Elmwood Park Senior Activity Center
Boulevard & Market Street; 201-796-3342

Englewood Bergen Family Center
44 Armory St.; 201-568-0817

Fair Lawn Senior Center
1105 Gardiner Road; 201-796-1191

Fairview Senior Center
53 Grant St.; 201-943-5522

Fort Lee Senior Center
319 Main St.; 201-592-3670

Garfield Senior Activity Center
480 Midland Ave.; 973-478-0502

Garfield Housing Authority - Golden Age
225 Midland Ave.; 973-340-4182

Garfield Housing Authority - Belmont Gardens
377 Midland Ave.; 973-340-4182

Hackensack
Americas Unidas Multicultural Senior Activity Center
101 Hudson St.; 201-336-3320

Hackensack
Martin Luther King, Jr. Senior Center
Varick Memorial AME Zion Church
120 Atlantic St.; 201-343-0441

Lyndhurst Senior Center
281 Stuyvesant Ave.; 201-896-1629

Midland Park
Northwest Senior Activity Center
46-50 Center St.; 201-445-5690

New Milford Senior Center
275 River Road; 201-599-7565

North Arlington Senior Activity Center
St. Paul Episcopal Church
11 York Road; 201-998-5636

Northvale Senior Center
James F McGuire Center
116 Paris Ave.; 201-767-6299

Palisades Park Senior Activity Center
300 Highland Ave.; 201-944-5616

Ridgefield Nutrition Program
725 Slocum Ave.; 201-941-0963

Ridgefield Park Senior Activity Center
159 Park St.; 201-641-1220

Rutherford 55 Kip Senior Center
55 Kip St.; 201-460-1600

Teaneck Senior Services Center
Richard Rodda Community Center
250 Colonial Court; 201-837-0171

Teaneck Kosher Jewish Community Center
70 Sterling Place; 201-837-1422

Wallington Senior Activity Center
24 Union Boulevard; 973-777-5815

Westwood

100 Madison Ave.; 201-666-0840