Creativity & Innovation
Generating fresh ideas and new ways of doing things can help senior nutrition programs as they navigate challenges and work to remain relevant in a rapidly changing world, from public health emergencies to meeting the needs of a new generation of older adults. Discover how programs across the country are identifying innovative and creative practices to improve services, diversifying funding, and improving the health of recipients.
Briefs
- No Reservations Required: Establishing Restaurant Partnerships in the Age of COVID-19 —Considerations
for restaurant partnerships
Quick Guides
- Innovation: Part Discipline, Part Creativity, All Possible — Four basic steps
- Social Enterprising — Examples of innovative programs from REAL Services
- Food Truck 101 for Senior Nutrition Programs — Meal program innovation
- Choice Menu Quick Guide — Increase participation by offering choices
- Meal Site Environment: Institutional or Innovative — Ideas and tips to optimize the meal site environment and improve overall participation
Guides
- Guide to Working with Restaurants and Grocery Stores for Meals during COVID-19 — Guidance in partnering with food retailers to maintain competitiveness, provide high quality meals, and offer increased meal choice
- Nutrition Initiatives During COVID-19: Findings from State Aging and Disability Agencies— ADvancing States guide on opportunities and changes that states have made to ensure older adults and people with disabilities have access to food
- Meals in Motion — Utilizing food trucks to innovate
- Social, Mental, Emotional Health Coloring Pages — Activity guide
Tools & Toolkits
- Behavior Design Toolkit— CDC toolkit for applying behavioral design strategies to help guests make healthier choices at the meal site
- Sharing Our Space— Resources for developing and enhancing intergenerational sites from Generations United and the Eisner Foundation
Presentations
- Power Up Your Congregate Meal Program Series — ACL and NCOA events (recordings are free but require sign-in)
- Enhance Hospitality — Tips for enhancing atmosphere and hospitality in congregate meal programs
- Offer More Choices — Easy ways to increase menu and meal choices
- Updating Programming to Attract Baby Boomers — Example program models
- Making Your Meal Program THRIVE (YouTube)— University of Arizona Center on Aging project focused on ensuring emotionally safe, supportive, and inclusive environments
Resources
- Social Enterprising Aging Network Example: REAL Grille — Example of innovation including use of a food truck and catering services
- The Diner: Promising Practices from the Network — Example of pivoting to social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Partnerships with Food Banks and Other United States Department of Agriculture Programs — Frequently asked questions on how Older Americans Act programs can partner with SNAP, TEFAP, food banks, SFMNP, etc.
- Innovations and Lessons Learned from COVID-19 — Examples from the aging network
- Iowa Cafe Guide for Partners — Example restaurant partnership guide designed to help foodservice establishments partner with AAAs
- Meals in Motion Food Truck— A food truck in Connecticut serves congregate and home-delivered meals
Related Topics
- Restaurant Partnerships — Examples of successful partnerships, guidance, and considerations for working with restaurants
- Medically Tailored Meals — Guidance and best practices for adding MTM to your program