1 

Background and Purpose

A. Goal: 

The goal of the project is to modernize Iowa’s congregate meal program infrastructure, delivery 

mechanisms, and outreach to increase the number of consumers and meals served.

B. Objectives: 

1) Establishing a restaurant partnership infrastructure in the Elderbridge Area Agency on Aging (AAA) 

service region and Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging (NEI3A) service region (year 2)

2) Developing flexible approaches to congregate meal service delivery mechanisms to target and 

outreach to two generations of older adults

3) Modernizing a streamlined intake process through technology use

4) Identifying seniors who may be food insecure, socially isolated, and rural and providing nutrition 

education.

C. Overview of Project: 

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Division of Aging and Disability Services (HHS 

ADS), formerly known as the Iowa Department on Aging, in partnership with Area Agencies on Aging 

(AAA), developed The Iowa Café to modernize Iowa’s congregate meal program infrastructure. The 

Iowa Café transforms the traditional congregate meal site delivery method to an attractive 

restaurant partnership for older adults to gather and enjoy nutritious meals. This mutually beneficial 

project benefits both Iowa’s food insecure older adults and local communities to generate economic 

stimulus.

D. Project Results:

Iowa Area Agencies on Aging contracted with twenty-two (22) restaurant partners who served 98,107 

meals to 6,221 consumers. The addition of The Iowa Café restaurant partnership model:

• Increased congregate nutrition consumers served by up to 112%, 

• Increased reach among older adults age 60-74 by up to 344%,

• Increased reach among older adults who identify as Hispanic by up to 123%, 

• Increased reach among other culturally and racially diverse groups by up to 125%, 

• Increased reach among consumers living with food insecurity by up to 38%, and

• Increased reach among consumers living in rural areas by up to 112% compared to 2019.

Figure A. Demonstrates the increase in congregate 

nutrition participation in counties targeted by the 

grant project (includes meals funded outside the 

grant)

0

10000

Consumers

State Fiscal Year July-June (SFY)

Congregate Nutrition 

Participation Increased in Target 

Counties

NEI3A

Elderbridge
2 

3%

26%

71%

Limited Outreach to 

Congregate Consumers 

Age 60-74 in SFY2019 

0-59 60-74 75+

3%

55%

42%

Improved Outreach to 

Congregate Consumers 

Age 60-74 in SFY2023 

0-59 60-74 75+

 

Figures B and C. Demonstrate improved outreach to two generations of older adults in the Elderbridge AAA 

service region between SFY2019 and SFY23 (see full report for Figures D and E)

2388

1123

212

82

686

298

503

227

880

555

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000

Rural Iowa Café

Rural Traditional

Food Insecure Iowa Café

Food Insecure Traditional

High Nutrition Risk Iowa Café

High Nutrition Risk Traditional

Feel Lonely Iowa Café

Feel Lonely Traditional

Eat Alone Iowa Café

Eat Alone Traditional

Number of Consumers

Iowa Cafe Model Reached More Targeted Consumers 

(Elderbridge SFY23)

586

176

24

10

165

54

147

34

220

78

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700

Rural Iowa Café

Rural Traditional

Food Insecure Iowa Café

Food Insecure Traditional

High Nutrition Risk Iowa Café

High Nutrition Risk Traditional

Feel Lonely Iowa Café

Feel Lonely Traditional

Eat Alone Iowa Café

Eat Alone Traditional

Number of Consumers

Iowa Cafe Model Reached More Targeted Consumers 

(NEI3A SFY22)

Figures F and G. Compare outreach by the traditional and Iowa Café models in the targeted counties