INTRODUCTION

Adequate nutrition is critical to health, physical 

ability, and quality of life; and it is an important 

component of home and community-based services 

for older people.

NUTRITION PROGRAMS 

The Older Americans Act (OAA) Nutrition 

Programs, part of the Administration on Aging

within the Administration for Community Living,

provide grants to states to help support nutrition 

services for older people throughout the country. 

The OAA Nutrition Programs include the 

Congregate Nutrition Program and the HomeDelivered Nutrition Program. The Older Americans 

Act Title III grants authorize programs for State and 

Community Programs on Aging; and the Title VI 

Grants authorize programs for American Indians, 

Alaskan Natives and Native Hawaiians. The 

purposes of these programs are to 1) reduce hunger 

and food insecurity, 2) promote socialization, 3) 

promote health and well-being, and 4) delay adverse 

health conditions. The intent is to make communitybased nutrition services available to older adults 

who may be at risk of losing their independence and 

their ability to remain in the community. 

The programs provide health-promoting meals in a 

variety of group settings, such as senior centers, and 

faith-based settings, as well as in the homes of frail, 

isolated homebound older adults. Meals provide at 

least one-third of the recommended Dietary 

Reference Intakes established by the Food and 

Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine of the 

National Academy of Sciences, and adhere to the 

current Dietary Guidelines for Americans, issued by 

the Secretaries of the Departments of Health and 

Human Services and Agriculture. 

The OAA Nutrition Programs also provide a range 

of related services through the aging network’s over 

3,500 home-delivered meal providers and over 

4,100 congregate meal providers.

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These related 

nutritional services include, but are not limited to,

nutrition screening, assessment, education and 

counseling. 

In addition, the Programs provide an important link 

to other supportive in-home and community-based 

services such as homemaker and home-health aide 

services, transportation, physical activity programs, 

chronic disease self-management programs, home 

repair and modification, and falls prevention

programs.

The Congregate Nutrition Program, established in 

1972, serves healthy meals while also presenting

opportunities for social engagement, health and 

wellness activities and meaningful volunteer roles, 

all of which contribute to health and well-being.

The Home-Delivered Nutrition Program provides 

healthy meals delivered to the home, and in most 

cases an informal “safety check” for homebound

older individuals. Established in 1978, the homedelivered program is often the first in-home service 

that an older adult receives and serves as a primary 

access point for other home and community-based 

services. Volunteers and paid staff who deliver 

meals to homebound older adults often spend time 

with the individual, helping to decrease feelings of 

 

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2014 State Program Report

Older Americans Act Nutrition Programs
isolation. Volunteers and paid staff who deliver 

meals are encouraged to report any health or other 

issues that they may observe during their visits.

ELIGIBILITY

In general, under the OAA, a person must be 60 

years of age or older to be eligible for the nutrition 

programs. While there is no income/means test, 

services are targeted to older individuals who have 

the greatest economic or social need, have low 

income, are a member of a low-income minority 

group, reside in a rural area, have limited English 

proficiency or are at risk of institutionalization. 

OAA NUTRITION PROGRAMS ARE:

 Highly rated by recipients; 95-96% of 

participants would recommend the OAA

Nutrition Programs to a friend.

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 Highly effective; 93% of home-delivered 

nutrition participants stated the program helps 

them live at home.

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GOOD NUTRITION IS VITAL TO HEALTH

Due in part to advances in public health and medical 

care, Americans are living longer and more active 

lives. The average life expectancy of an American 

has increased dramatically over the last century. One 

consequence of this increased longevity is the higher 

incidence of chronic conditions. Multiple chronic 

conditions can negatively affect quality of life, 

contribute to declines in functioning and the ability 

to remain in the community, adversely impact 

individuals’ health and contribute to increased 

hospitalizations and health care costs. Nutrition is a 

primary prevention, risk reduction or treatment 

modality for many of the most common chronic 

conditions such as hypertension, heart disease, 

diabetes and osteoporosis. Data from AoA’s 

national survey of older adult participants indicate:

 57% of congregate and 71% of home-delivered

participants, have five or more chronic health 

conditions.

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2

2014 National Survey of OAA Participants

 32% of congregate and 51% of home-delivered 

participants take six or more different

prescription medications per day and some 

home-delivered nutrition participants take up to 

30 different prescription medications per day.

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Because of the prevalence of multiple chronic 

conditions among congregate and home-delivered 

program participants, the provision of healthy meals, 

access to lifestyle modification programs and 

evidence-based advice such as nutrition education 

and counseling are important. The nutrition 

programs provide much more than access to healthy 

meals. They provide an opportunity for social

connectiveness, which supports physical, mental and 

social well-being.3

OAA NUTRITION PROGRAMS ARE EFFECTIVE 

AT TARGETING SERVICES: 

 63% of Home-Delivered Nutrition Program 

participants related that the program meal 

provides 1⁄2 or more of their food for the day.

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 52% of Home-Delivered Nutrition Program 

participants live alone.

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 69% of Home-Delivered Nutrition Program 

participants are over the age of 75.4

 46% of Congregate Nutrition Program 

participants live alone.4

 57% of Congregate Nutrition Program 

participants are over the age of 75.4

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ACL

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

Administration for Community Living 

Washington DC 20201

Phone: (202) 401-4634

Email: ACLinfo@acl.hhs.gov

Web: http://www.ACL.gov

 

3 HealthyPeople 2020, Health-Related Quality of Life 

and Well-Being 

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2014 National Survey of OAA Participants