Dividing left-overs into individual servings and
freezing for later use
Sharing meal shopping, preparation and costs with a
friend
Planning potluck dinners where everyone brings a
prepared dish
Taking part in group meal programs at senior citi-
zen’s centers or at churches or synagogues
Utilizing food stamps
In the United States, food stamps are also an
option that seniors can utilize to purchase food. In
many areas, there is grocery-shopping assistance avail-
able to help the home-bound purchase food items -
sometimes a service fee may be required, in addition to
the cost of the groceries.
The Elderly Nutrition Program, authorized under
Title III of the U.S. Older Americans Act, provides
grants to state community agencies on aging and fed-
erally recognized tribal governments to support con-
gregate and home-delivered meals to persons 60 years
and older. Additional funds for the program are pro-
vided by state and local agencies. The program is
designed to address problems of dietary inadequacy
and social isolation among older persons, especially
low-income minorities and rural populations.
Although these programs target the poor, they are
available at no cost to all elderly persons, regardless
of income. Many seniors participate in these programs
while confidentially and voluntarily donating money
in order to keep active and socially engaged.
The congregate meal program allows seniors to
gather at a local site, such as a senior citizen’s center,
school, or restaurant for a meal. Often additional
services are available, such as health and nutrition
screenings and education, counseling, fitness pro-
grams, or recreational activities. This program assures
that for five to seven days each week, seniors eat at
least one nutritious meal that provides at least one-
third of the recommended dietary allowances for an
older person. Often meals are available that meet the
requirements for special diets, such as low-sodium for
high blood pressure or soft foods for those who have
trouble chewing.
Meals on Wheels Association of America
(MOWAA) is an organization whose membership is
comprised mostly of senior nutrition programs in the
United States. MOWAA member programs through-
out the country provide nutritious meals and other
nutrition services to men and women who are elderly,
homebound, disabled, frail, or at risk. These services
significantly improve the quality of life and health of
the individuals they serve and postpone early institu-tionalization. Many participants are people who do
not require hospitalization, but who need a helping
hand in order to maintain their independence. As a
national organization, MOWAA focuses on those
issues that can best assist its members in achieving
their individual missions of providing quality meals
and nutrition services to as many vulnerable people as
possible in the most efficient and effective manner ‘‘so
no senior goes hungry’’.
Volunteers who deliver meals to older persons
who are homebound through MOWAA are encour-
aged to spend time with their clients. The volunteers
also check on the welfare of the homebound so that
they can report any health or other problems that they
note during their visits.
The Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program
(SFMNP) awards grants to states, United States
territories, and federally-recognized tribal govern-
ments to provide low-income seniors with coupons
that can be exchanged for eligible foods at farmers’
markets, roadside stands, and community support
agriculture programs. In addition to providing fresh,
nutritious locally grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs
to low-income seniors, the program also increases and
expanding domestic consumption of local agricultural
commodities. Persons eligible for SFMNP benefits are
individuals who are at least 60 years old and who have
household incomes of not more than 185% of the
federal poverty guidelines. In 2004, 802,000 low-
income seniors purchased food from 14,500 farmers
at 2,500 farmers’ markets as well as at 2,500 roadside
stands and 215 community-supported agriculture
programs.
You Can! - Steps to Healthier Aging is part of the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’
Steps to a Healthier US initiative, which encourages
Americans of every age to make healthier choices.
The You Can! campaign is designed to increase the
number of older adults who are active and healthy by
using a partnership approach to mobilize commun-
ities. Information about this community program is
available on the web site of the United States Admin-
istration of Aging: [www.aoa.gov/youcan/]. By Sep-
tember 30, 2006, a total of more than 2,800 community
organizations had made a commitment to reach 4.2
million older adults with information and 436,000
with programs.ComplicationsWithout adequate nutrition, the health of senior
citizens will suffer.Senior nutrition