Caterers now provide healthy meals for the elderly at doorstep

Chennai

When Seetha and Rajagopalan, a couple in their 70s, return to their hometown in Chennai, after spending close to six months with their son and daughter, they opt for a catering service in Mylapore for their daily meals. Seetha says, “Since we stay abroad for several months, ordering food through a catering service becomes rather convenient. As we have been availing the services for many years now, the caterers know the exact proportions of salt and spices we require.”

Healthy options

While catering services have been around for many years, a growing ageing population, especially a large section of them living alone, has spiralled a demand for exclusive services. It was the growing demand for such services especially for the elderly population that prompted Vijayalakshmi Ulaganathan to start the Chennai Geriatric Catering Service. She says, “There are around 10-15 of them who order our food on a daily basis in Anna Nagar. We charge Rs 80 per meal that includes rice and vegetables and dinner options of idlis and chappathis.” 

Subramanya Food Services that operates out of Adambakkam has almost 200 senior citizens on their list of customers. Apart from it, they also have a number of senior citizens who opt for their services, when they recover from a surgery. “A segment of them undergo a cataract surgery and they are unable to go near the stove for a few days. Then there are some with severe arthritis who cannot stand for long hours and cook,” says R Subramanian who runs the pure vegetarian catering service that covers the whole of South Chennai. While breakfast is priced at Rs 60, lunch options with or without rice costs Rs 120 and Rs 90 respectively and dinner is available at Rs 60.

Home cooked meals 

Everyday around lunch time, Alwarpet-based T Jayalakshmi (67) cycles to almost five homes in Abhiramapuram to deliver lunch. Her clientele, all above 60 years, comprise aging bachelors, siblings and a couple.  Her lunch carrier priced at Rs 100 contains, rice, sambar, rasam, kootu and poriyal for four people. She says, “As such, the food I prepare has very little oil, salt and coconut. Therefore, it is best for senior citizens, who have a number of health conditions like hypertension and diabetes,” she says. PS Srikumar, founder of Care Finder, a portal that offers service providers and products specifically for the elderly, says that a number of homemakers have entered the scene. “These are area specific catering options and some of these caterers are homemakers who want to prepare food for the elderly out of passion for cooking and helping. Recently, an NRI wanted Jain food for his brother, who is unwell. We could find a person to meet the requirements,” he says.

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