Company a recipe for success

Test Kitchen, a social dining idea, was designed in response to older people’s wishes to be able to eat good food with others rather than eating at home alone.

The project has been carried out in Port Augusta with support from the local Meals on Wheels branch.

The organisation now hopes to examine options for home-based meal hosting, including by younger people as a way to volunteer and reach out to older neighbours.

“Many people want more from their mealtimes than eating alone at home,” Dr Haren said.

“Many want to have company during meals, but for many who live alone this can be a difficult step to take without help.

“It is important to help people take that step, as it may help prevent or reduce risk of under-nutrition and associated problems.” Dr Haren and his team have been testing how people interact when they are brought together to share a meal.

“We are focusing on trying to solve two really closely related problems – being socially isolated as an older person is a huge factor for being undernourished,” he said. “Research has shown that when older people eat with others, they eat more food, because of the quality and nature of the social interactions that happen across the table.”

Dr Haren said Meals on Wheels customers said they particularly enjoyed the brief social interaction they had with volunteers delivering their food, but many wanted that time extended.

“With that in mind, Test Kitchen has been serving up lunches in a central institute hall to older people, who paid between $8 and $12, and varying the times and regularity to see what’s most popular.

“Most diners are women, so evening barbecues that may attract more men are being considered.

“The lunches have done really well at getting returned patronage – those who have come so far are kind of hooked.”

The project will now look at options including home hosting and community hosting, using pop-up dining rooms in public spaces like art galleries.