Celebrating the National Senior Nutrition Program

Funded by the Older Americans Act, the National Senior Nutrition Program began in 1972 and has been meeting the nutritional, social, and wellness needs of Older Americans for nearly 50 years. Each March, we recognize its anniversary by celebrating the program's rich history and tremendous value across the nation.

About the Program

ACL funds senior nutrition services, including home-delivered meals and meals served in group settings. The intent of the program is to provide: 1) nutrition, 2) socialization, and 3) health and well-being.

More on ACL's Senior Nutrition Program

Webinars:

Introductory Webinar: 

• Tuesday, February 2nd, 3:00 pm -4:00 pm EST
  • Presentation

Webinar #1: Trifecta:  Nutrition, Socialization, & Health & Well-Being (Register Here)

• Date:  Thursday, March 4th
• Time:  3:00 pm – 4:00 pm EST
• Speakers:
  • Nutrition Jeopardy – Keri Lipperini, MPA, Director, Office of Nutrition and Health Promotion Programs, ACL and Judy Simon, MS, RD, LDN, National Nutritionist, ACL
  • Special Guest - Edwin Walker, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aging - ACL
  • Network Speakers – Jason Echols, Manager of Special Initiatives and Fraud Protection, AgeOptions (Chicago) and Joel Sekorski, Director, Services for the Elderly – Sullivan Senior Center  (Connecticut)
• Objectives of the presentation
  • Summarize the intention of the Older Americans Act
  • Discuss virtual programs (Memory Café, Thrive with Pride) and how to market these programs successfully to older Americans
  • Present how to expand initiatives to increase the outreach of seniors in need by thinking outside the box

Webinar #2: Trifecta – Part 1:  Food Insecurity & Malnutrition (Register Here)

• Date:  Thursday, March 11th
• Time:  3:00 pm – 4:00 pm EST
• Speakers: 
  • Judy Simon, MS, RD, LDN, National Nutritionist, ACL
  • Network Speakers:  Paul Hepfer, CEO Project Open Hand (California) and Pam VanKampen,  Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources (Wisconsin)
• Objectives of the presentation
  • Distinguish between nutrition and food insecurity
  • Identify the root causes of malnutrition and present innovative approaches to combatting malnutrition
  • Discuss the importance of partnerships and lessons learned

Webinar #3: Trifecta Part 2:  Socialization (Register Here)

• Date:  Thursday, March 18th
• Time:  3:00 pm – 4:00 pm EST
• Network Speakers:
  • Jasmine  Aplin, JD - Office of American Indian, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian Programs, ACL  
  • Anna Feltz, Director, Old Bridge New Jersey Senior Center (New Jersey)
• Objectives of the presentation
  • Understand the socialization challenges faced by the aging network and the tribal nations
  • Highlight the importance of community, connections, and innovative ideas for combatting social isolation
  • Demonstrate how to use virtual programming to promote socialization

Webinar #4: Trifecta Part 3:  Health & Well-Being (Register Here)

• Date:  Thursday, March 25th
• Time:  3:00 pm – 4:00 pm EST
• Speakers: 
  • Judy Simon, MS, RD, LDN, National Nutritionist, ACL
  • Network Speakers:  Carmen Clutter, MS, RDN, LD, Population Health and Nutrition Manager, Elder Connections Division, (Ohio) and Alex Bauman, RD, LDN, Nutrition, Health & Wellness Director, MAC, Partners in Care (Iowa)
  • Keri Lipperini, MPA, Director, Office of Nutrition and Health Promotion Programs, ACL
• Objectives of the presentation
  • Define health and well-being including new challenges presented during the pandemic
  • Health and well-being programs and the value of partnerships
  • Reaching and marketing to the older American

Community Toolkit

This collection of materials is designed to help you plan and implement fun, engaging programs that enhance socialization and well-being for your Senior Nutrition Program participants. From social media content to partnership and activity ideas, find resources to help engage your community.

Senior Nutrition Program Toolkit

Other Ready-to-Use Articles & Graphics from ACL

Program Value

Senior Nutrition Programs must promote their role in supporting not only the food needs of older adults but also their overall health and well-being. Partners, local and state decisionmakers, and others must understand the value of nutrition services. Keeping them informed on your intent and impact can lead to better outcomes for your community and consumers.

Communicating Program Value

• Congregate Meal Programs Value Proposition: This infographic can help you make the business case for congregate meal programs to partners and leaders.
• Local Meal Program Promo Poster: Customize this poster and use it to tell your community about your program and its benefits to participants.

Beyond the Meal Snapshots

Infographics from the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs (NANASP)

• The Value of Socialization in OAA Congregate Nutrition Programs
• Case Study: Value in Wisconsin (2018 data)
• Case Study: Value in Oregon (2019 data)

Program Evaluation:  ACL's three-part evaluation of its Title III-C OAA Nutrition Services Program.

• Part One: Process Evaluation of OAA Title III-C Nutrition Services Program provides information to support program planning by analyzing program structure, administration, staffing, coordination, and service delivery.
• Part Two: OAA Nutrition Programs Evaluation: Meal Cost Analysis estimates the costs of program operations, the most important being the cost of the congregate and home-delivered meals provided using Title III.
• Part Three: The Client Outcome Study: Part I was released in two parts with Part l describing nutrition services program participants’ demographics, health status, mobility, eating behaviors, diet quality, food security, socialization, and other characteristics, as well as participants’ experiences with the program and their valuation of meals and supportive services received.  Client Outcome Study: Part II describes participants’ health and health care utilization and examines overall wellness measured using longer-term outcomes related to health and avoidance of institutionalization.

Innovations in Nutrition Programs and Services

ACL has awarded grants for innovative projects to enhance the quality, effectiveness and outcomes of nutrition services programs provided by the national aging services network. A main goal of this initiative is to identify innovative and promising practices that can be scaled across the country. ACL also aims to increase the use of evidence-informed practices within nutrition programs Summaries of these programs are available.

 Network Experience

Countless lessons learned and success stories illustrate the importance and impact of the National Senior Nutrition Program. As a hub for such information, ACL's National Resource Center on Nutrition & Aging (NRCNA) builds the capacity of the Aging Services Network and increases knowledge on the role of nutrition services in health promotion and disease prevention.

NRCNA's Innovative Programs Hub

Did you find what you were looking for on this page? If not, please let us know by sending us a note at healthpromotion@acl.hhs.gov.