Innovate: Make an Impact

What is innovation?

When you hear the word innovation, it probably brings to mind well-known discoveries that have

changed the way we live, such as the invention of the car or the internet. But did you know that

not all innovations are so monumental? Even small innovations can make a big impact. 

For example, think about the changes you make to your senior nutrition program all the time. 

Maybe it’s adding more meal choices to the menu or starting a new fitness activity. These changes 

may not seem significant enough to be called innovations, but they make an impact that helps you 

to better serve the older adults in your community – and that’s what innovation is all about.

Innovation certainly includes inventions, but it can also involve continuous improvement, creative 

approaches to routine tasks, and even simply challenging yourself to think differently about familiar 

topics.

So, it’s time to start thinking of yourself – yes, you! – as an innovator. Here are some tips to help 

you on your journey. 

Tips for becoming an innovator

Ask the right people the right questions. What improvements can be made to your

program? Have clients consistently given the same feedback – maybe asking for 

more meal variety or different ways to access meals? Asking questions and gaining 

insight from your most important audiences – and doing so on a regular basis – can 

help you focus your innovative efforts. 

Brainstorm. Work with staff, volunteers, organizational and community partners, 

and others to come up with new and creative ideas to improve your program and 

support your community. Try to include people you don’t get to work with very 

often – they can add a valuable perspective to the discussion. 

Find inspiration. Reinventing the wheel isn’t always necessary. Explore the network 

and learn from what other programs and organizations are doing in your community, 

your state, and across the country. Tweak their approaches to fit your program – or 

let them inspire new ideas of your own. 

 
Senior Nutrition Program 50th Anniversary: Innovate: Make an Impact | acl.gov/snp50 | Page 2 

How to jumpstart “outside the box” thinking

1. Question the status quo – ask “what if...?” often. Allow yourself the 

space to imagine a wide range of possibilities, thinking about 

uncommon solutions to common problems.

2. Draw a picture of a topic or challenge and possible ways to address it

(as a team, if possible). This exercise engages the brain differently 

than traditional brainstorming.

3. Pick a topic and write as fast as you can without stopping to edit. Freewriting works best with 

a pen and paper. Set a short timer to force your brain to work quickly and unconventionally.

4. Work backwards and upside down. Reframing and rearranging things can reveal new patterns. 

Focusing on your goal instead of how you’ll get there. Imagine if your least important outcome 

were the most important. Or imagine your best possible scenario and plan backwards to now.

5. Think like a child. Creatures of habit aren’t always the most creative, and children don’t yet 

have the same structured thinking. Think about how a child might explain how to do something

(or ask one!) and allow yourself to be a “messy thinker.”

6. Move your meeting outdoors. A change of scenery can lead to a change of mind. If you cannot 

meet outside, take a walk on your own beforehand to clear your head and make space for 

ideas.

What does innovation look like in senior nutrition programs? 

Senior nutrition programs are always looking for new and better ways to serve the older adults in 

their communities. Check out these examples:

• Expanding meal choices for older adults. 

• Pivoting to a grab-and-go model when meals can’t be enjoyed inside together. 

• Starting a food truck to raise funds for the local nutrition program. 

To learn more about these incredible innovations and others, read the Nutrition and Aging 

Resource Center’s success stories. Or find inspiration from ACL's Innovations in Nutrition Programs 

and Services.