SENIOR FRIENDSHIP CENTERS INC

Nutrition: the older americans action (oaa) nutrition program provides nutritious meals to low-income and food insecure seniors age 60+ allowing them to live independently while improving mental and physical health and wellbeing. Studies show that good nutrition not only reduces hunger and food insecurity but it prevents disease, promotes socialization, and increases the likelihood for this population to safely age, in place making household budgets stretch further and saving taxpayer dollars.congregate meals are provided to various neighborhood and community dining sites in all four counties served by senior friendship centers: charlotte, desoto, lee, and sarasota counties. Once the individual becomes a regular participant, a nutrition coordinator conducts an assessment to identify their nutrition status and potential risk. The dining sites are all about connections where older adults connect to other supportive services such as transportation, physical activity programs, health screenings, volunteerism, and meaningful social contact. Home delivered meals provide 5 or 7 meals each week, depending upon the need. Referrals to the program come from many sources including physicians, faith leaders, social workers, home health agencies, friends and family. The oaa nutrition program began at senior friendship centers in 1973, making it one of the longest running programs in sfc's network of services. In addition to regular meals served in social dining sites or delivered to homes, the program provides information and assistance with hurricane and disaster preparedness, provision of shelf stable/emergency meals, and support in accessing other resources. We are the hub where seniors can get directed to all the services they might need in one place. Participants in both congregate and those receiving a meal at home have the benefit of monthly nutrition education and a registered dietician (rd) offers nutrition counseling. Menus are prepared on a six-month rotation, are planned by rd and must meet usda dietary guidelines for older adults. Participants have a voice in menu planning through nutrition advisory meetings held twice a year at each dining site. The meals served by sfc are life sustaining for many of these older adults who would otherwise go without vital nourishment, experience a decline in physical and emotional wellbeing, and potentially be unable to remain in their own home.