Celebrate the Senior Nutrition Program | ACL Administration for Community Living

Since 1972, the national Senior Nutrition Program has supported nutrition services for older adults across the country. Funded by the Older Americans Act (OAA), local programs serve as hubs where people 60+ find healthy meals and other vital services that strengthen social connections and promote well-being.

Every March, we celebrate our program's anniversary and the many accomplishments of the national and local programs. We promote how nutrition services help people stay independent as they age, and we highlight critical senior nutrition issues.

Theme

The 2023 theme is Cooking Up Community. It pairs one of the most prominent elements of our program – food – with one of its most important aspects – community. Through the national program, local providers serve, build, and better their communities through meals, social connections, educational programming, and so much more.

Read the blog post by Keri Lipperini, director of ACL's Office of Nutrition and Health Promotion Programs

Graphics

Materials

Events

Preview the Senior Nutrition Program Celebration (January 25)
Recording (YouTube)| PowerPoint Slides

Speakers reflected on 2022, discussed the 2023 celebration, and took questions from the audience. Featured speakers included ACL's Director of the Office of Nutrition and Health Promotion Programs Keri Lipperini.

Senior Nutrition Program Celebration (March 22)
Recording (YouTube)| Intro Rotation Slides | Event Slides

The Office of Nutrition and Health Promotion Programs hosted this virtual celebration recognizing the program's impact and discussing how to continue innovating to advance the critical services the program provides to older adults.

Social Media

We're cooking up (an online) community! Sharing your successes and ideas is important year-round, but we're hoping you will help us to create a swell of engagement during March. Use the hashtag #SeniorNutritionProgram and tell us (and everyone) about your program, how you're celebrating, or what you think is a hot topic in nutrition right now.

Grab-and-go Quotes

Need an ACL quote for an article or other materials? Please feel free to use these pre-approved statements.

Alison Barkoff, Acting Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging, ACL: “As the keystone program of the Older Americans Act, the Senior Nutrition Program is at the foundation of our nation's system for helping older adults age in place. For 50 years, it has provided healthy meals, opportunities for social interaction, and access to a wide variety of programs and services to help older people stay active, healthy and engaged in their communities. ACL is proud of this program and the aging services network whose leadership and tireless efforts bring it to life across the country.”
Edwin Walker, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aging, ACL: “For 50 years, the Senior Nutrition Program has helped older adults access healthy meals, nutrition education, social opportunities, and other invaluable supports in communities nationwide. This year marks a milestone for both the Older Americans Act, which authorizes the program, and for community living, which is made ever more achievable by community-based resources like the Senior Nutrition Program.”
Keri Lipperini, Director, Office of Nutrition and Health Promotion Programs, ACL: "Prior to my work at the Administration for Community Living, I managed local nutrition programs. I know first-hand the difference these programs make in the lives of older adults every single day. For decades, our programs have offered nutritious meals and socialization opportunities, all while promoting overall health and well-being for seniors across the country. I am so proud of the many accomplishments of these programs during the last 50 years, and at ACL, we look forward to a future fueled by innovation, education, and, of course, nutrition."
Judy Simon, MS, RD, LDN, National Nutritionist, ACL: "We know nutrition plays a critical role in good health as we age, which is why the work of ACL's Senior Nutrition Program is so essential. As we celebrate the program's 50th anniversary, I want to recognize the thousands of staff and volunteers across the nation who have worked tirelessly to ensure seniors stay healthy and independent by preparing nutritious meals, offering a variety of nutrition and wellness services, and providing welcoming socialization opportunities.”