New cooking courses to help older people living alone

31 May 2017

New ‘JUST COOK 4 Healthy Ageing’ classes to help older adults improve their cooking skills

A free, four-week ‘JUST COOK 4 Healthy Ageing’ course designed to encourage older people to improve their skills, motivation or confidence around cooking will be held on Wednesdays at St John The Evangelist Anglican Church in Royal Oak from 14 June and at St Michael’s Anglican Church in Henderson from 26 July.

JUST COOK 4 Healthy Ageing is a fun, practical, ‘hands-on’ cooking and nutrition course for older people who have limited or no cooking skills and want to learn to cook, or those who wish to re-kindle their interest in cooking. The programme is free-of-charge, with all ingredients and equipment provided, and is open to seniors who live alone or care for a partner.

Held over four consecutive weeks, each class lasts three hours and includes morning tea and lunch. Facilitated by nutritionists from the NZ Nutrition Foundation, each session involves cooking a meal which is then shared with the group. The course also offers tips and advice on healthy eating, menu planning, affordable food options and budgeting.

The ‘JUST COOK 4 Healthy Ageing’ programme has recently been developed by the NZ Nutrition Foundation. It is an extension of their ‘JUST COOK’ programme designed to encourage people back into the kitchen, with the objective of improving health and wellbeing. The Minister for Seniors, Hon Maggie Barry, provided funding from the Community Connects Fund to develop the programme. The roll-out of the programme for seniors is being funded by The Selwyn Foundation – a charitable trust that provides a range of services for older people – in partnership with the NZ Nutrition Foundation.

Selwyn’s Community Programmes Manager, Heather Whineray, says:

‘JUST COOK 4 Healthy Ageing’ is a wonderful opportunity for older people living alone in the community – or who are living with one other person – to renew their interest in cooking and eating healthily, and to make friends whilst learning in a fun and supportive environment.

‘The programme aims to inspire confidence and build cooking skills in people who lack experience in this area, and to show participants how nutritional wellbeing in older age can enhance health, independence and quality of life.’

The course in Royal Oak begins on 14 June at St John The Evangelist Anglican Church, 6 Chandler Avenue, from 10.00am-1.00pm and will run until 5 July 2017. In Henderson, it will be held at St Michael’s Anglican Church, 425 Great North Rd, from 10.00am-1.00pm on 26 July until 16 August 2017. Numbers are limited and registration is essential to secure a place.

Applicants must be able to stand for at least an hour during food preparation and be able to commit to the full four-week course. Participants will also need to bring an apron and covered shoes to wear.

To register, please contact Amy Waddell, Administrator, The Selwyn Institute for Ageing and Spirituality, The Selwyn Foundation. Tel: 09 849 9203. Email: amyw@selwyncare.org.nz

Notes to Editors:

The ‘JUST COOK 4 Healthy Ageing’ programme has been recently developed by the New Zealand Nutrition Foundation. The Minister for Seniors, Hon Maggie Barry, provided funding from the Community Connects Fund to assist the Foundation to develop the programme. The New Zealand Nutrition Foundation is an independent, professional, non-profit organisation with a long-held interest in healthy ageing. The Foundation helps New Zealanders improve health and wellbeing through evidence-based programmes on food, nutrition and health. www.agewelleatwell.com

www.nutritionfoundation.org.nz.

The Selwyn Foundation is a New Zealand independent charitable trust, providing residential care (rest homes, hospitals and dementia care), retirement living and community services for older people. As a not-for-profit organisation, the Foundation reinvests any financial surpluses into the provision of additional facilities and charitable activities aimed at helping the aged. www.selwyncare.org.nz

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