It’s a match made in the new coronavirus climate. The Florida Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA), along with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) and the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA), have partnered for a mutually beneficial purpose.
The needs of workers in the restaurant business will be matched with the needs of the elderly and meal delivery services.
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“By working together, our agencies will be able to ensure all of our 5.5 million seniors have safe access to food,” said Richard Prudom, Secretary for the Florida Department of Elder Affairs. “Gov. DeSantis has helped to facilitate this process and allowed restaurants and food establishments to become emergency meal vendors for Florida’s seniors who are homebound or self-isolating for protection.”
As meal sites for seniors close around the state to prevent the spread of COVID19, the collaboration between state agencies and the restaurant association will provide one more layer of food reassurance to our seniors. Prudom said the action will greatly increase the flexibility of our communities to access meal delivery.
“Ensuring that older Floridians have access to food during this unprecedented time is important to our restaurant owners and employees,” said Carol Dover, President & CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association.
DOEA’s 11 Area Agencies on Aging throughout the state will work with local volunteers and other local service providers to ensure meal delivery to Florida’s most vulnerable population. Meal delivery by volunteers and other organizations will also address social isolation of seniors by providing the simple interaction of food delivery to the doorstep of an elder.
For more information about the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, visit www.elderaffairs.org.
