River House Receives Grant

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River House Adult Day Center received a $54,000 grant from the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation to fund meals. “River House offers so many benefits to members that the meal program is often overlooked. Daily access to a nutritious lunch and snacks is critical to the health, happiness, and longevity of our members,” said Executive Director, Donna Spellman, MS. “We are enormously grateful to the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation for recognizing the need and impact of the program.”

According to The Gerontological Society of America, malnutrition is a prevalent, serious, and often unrecognized health threat for older adults. Published clinical reports show that as many as 60% of older adults (age 65+) admitted to the hospital may be malnourished. Age-related health challenges that many River House members face, including dementia, depression, disabilities, medications, and restricted diets, can cause a loss of appetite often leading to malnutrition.

River House combats malnutrition among members by providing a morning snack, a balanced lunch, and an afternoon snack to all members each day. In total over 12,000 lunches and 24,000 snacks are served each year. All meals meet the Child and Adult Care Food Program guidelines and adhere to members’ dietary restrictions to ensure that members are receiving the nutrients they need to remain healthy and energized throughout the day. River House also strives to make meal time social to encourage eating. Members dine overlooking the beautiful Mianus River while listening to uplifting music, chatting with friends, and often enjoying visits from volunteers. After they fuel their bodies, members are invigorated to participate in a variety of physically and cognitively stimulating recreational activities.

“I am a firm believer in the power of food to heal from within,” said Alex Cohen, President and Co-founder of the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation. “Older adults deserve nutritious and medically tailored meals to keep them healthy, every day. We are proud to support River House Adult Day Center’s meal program and the many local seniors it helps nourish, both physically and emotionally.”

About River House: River House Adult Day Center (River House) addresses the impact of aging on families in our community by providing comprehensive, recreational and medical services to aging adults while offering guidance and support to their caregivers.  Each day over 50 aging adults who wish to remain in the community, but require daytime assistance, come to River House to participate in vibrant activities, socialize with their peers, and receive compassionate care. Members who may be challenged with dementia, Alzheimer’s, depression, arthritis, diabetes, vision/hearing loss, or other age-related ailments, greatly benefit from River House’s team of nurses, health aides, social workers, and therapeutic recreation staff who are trained to support their unique needs.  River House is a non-profit organization serving families from the Greenwich and Stamford communities. To learn more, please visit theriverhouse.org

About the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation: The Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation is committed to inspiring philanthropy and community service by creating awareness, offering guidance and leading by example to show the world what giving can do. Since launching the Foundation in 2001, Steven and Alexandra Cohen have generously funded local and national nonprofit organizations that uplift the communities in which they serve. The Cohens’ giving reflects their personal connection with the causes that inspire them. To learn more, please visit steveandalex.org

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