UT College of Social Work intern Savannah Davis assists Sharon Hughes from Clinch River Home Health as she made and served healthy and delicious berry smoothies. Sharon also shared many great tasting and creative ideas and tips to help residents start the new year eating in a more healthy way.

In addition to the smoothies, residents were able to snack on a variety of the healthiest fresh fruits and vegetables; some residents trying foods they had never eaten before, such as hummus and guacamole. Thank you Sharon and Clinch River Home Health for the display of healthy options!

In its annual health and wellness survey, HomeSource identified nutrition as one area that its senior residents were struggling. The organization partnered with a local church to provide a food pantry and worked with local produce suppliers to get fresh produce to the property. In the three years since the first survey, we have seen a marked improvement in nutritional habits of our residents, leading to healthier and happier seniors!

The program was part of HomeSource’s Senior Care Coordination program, which allows the organization to provide a service coordinator for its 90 senior units. The program is funded through rental income and CDBG funds from Knox County.