Keywords

congregate feeding, elderly nutrition program, minority, poverty-level

 

Authors

  1. Huckaby, Dana BS, RD
  2. Chao, Shirley MS, RD, LDN
  3. Edelstein, Sari PhD, RD

Abstract

The goal of the Elderly Nutrition Program is to serve the most vulnerable elderly populations with the greatest social and economic need. This study examined individual meal programs in Massachusetts to determine whether or not the programs successfully reached their target populations. Questionnaires, sent to 27 programs, were designed to gather information on the number of congregate meals, home-delivered meals, and minority participation. The results indicated that the 18 responding programs had active outreach efforts. The program minority population ranged from 0% to 5.3% (average 2.5%), and outreach efforts to target new clients were demonstrated. Statistical analysis also revealed that home-delivered meals volume was greater than initially forecasted.