Nutrition Services (OAA Title IIIC)
Authorizing Legislation: Sections 311, 330, 331, 336, and 339 of the Older Americans Act (OAA) of 1965, as amended
The Purpose of the Program and How it Works
The purpose of the OAA Nutrition Program (OAA Section 330) is to:
- Reduce hunger and food insecurity
- Promote socialization of older individuals
- Promote the health and well-being of older individuals and delay adverse health conditions through access to nutrition and other disease prevention and health promotion services.
Congregate Nutrition Services, established in 1972 and Home-Delivered Nutrition Services, established in 1978, provide meals and related nutrition services to older individuals in a variety of settings including congregate facilities such as senior centers; or by home-delivery to older individuals who are homebound due to illness, disability, or geographic isolation. Services are targeted to those in greatest social and economic need with particular attention to low income individuals, minority individuals, those in rural communities, those with limited English proficiency and those at risk of institutional care. Nutrition Services Programs help older individuals to remain independent and in their communities.
The OAA authorizes three different nutrition programs under Title III:
- Congregate Nutrition Services (Title III C1)
- Home-Delivered Nutrition Services (Title III C2)
- Nutrition Services Incentive Program (NSIP).
Grants for Congregate Nutrition Services and Home-Delivered Nutrition Services are allocated to States and Territories by a formula based on their share of the population aged 60 and over.
Nutrition Services Incentive Program grants are additional grants for food only to States, Territories, and Indian Tribal Organizations based on their proportional share of the total number of meals served in the prior Federal fiscal year.
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Nutrition Quality Standards (OAA Section 339)
OAA Section 339 states the same nutrition quality standards for meals funded by all three programs. Because the OAA is a state administered program, the implementation requirements for the nutrition quality standards may vary by state. The 2006 Reauthorization Frequently Asked Questions about Nutrition provides further guidance.
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Congregate Nutrition Services (Title III C1, OAA Section 331)
Title III C1 (OAA Section 331) authorizes meal provision and related nutrition services in congregate settings, which help to keep older Americans healthy and prevent the need for more costly medical interventions. Besides meals, services include nutrition screening and education and nutrition assessment and counseling as appropriate. The program also presents opportunities for social engagement and meaningful volunteer roles, which contribute to overall health and well-being. In Fiscal Year 2007, about 39 percent of total meals (94,875,935 total meals) were served in Congregate Nutrition Services to about 64 percent of total participants (1,667,218 total participants) in the OAA Nutrition Program.
Services are available to individuals who are age 60 or over and the spouse of an older individual regardless of age. Services may be available to a limited number of individuals who are under age 60 if they are: individuals with disabilities who reside with older individuals, volunteers who provide services during meal hours, individuals with disabilities who reside in housing facilities primarily occupied by older individuals at which congregate nutrition services are provided.
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Home-Delivered Nutrition Services (Title III C2, OAA Section 336)
Title III C2 (OAA Section 336) authorizes meal provision and related nutrition services to older individuals that are homebound. Home-delivered meals are often the first in-home service that an older adult receives, and the program is a primary access point for the other home and community-based services. Besides meals, services include nutrition screening and education and nutrition assessment and counseling as appropriate. Home-delivered meals also represent an essential service for many caregivers, by helping them to maintain their own health and well-being. In Fiscal Year 2007, about 61 percent of total meals (140,990,834 total meals) were served in Home-Delivered Nutrition Services to about 36 percent of total participants (916,708 total participants) in the OAA Nutrition Program.
Services are available to individuals who are age 60 or over and homebound and the spouse of an older individual regardless of age. Services may be available individuals who are under age 60 with disabilities if they reside with the homebound older individual.
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Nutrition Services Incentive Program (NSIP, OAA Section 311)
The NSIP was established by the OAA (Section 311) in 1974 as the Nutrition Program for the Elderly in United States Department of Agriculture [USDA (for commodities only, and in 1977 for commodities or cash)]. The NSIP was transferred to Administration on Aging in 2003. NSIP provides additional funding to States, Territories and eligible Tribal organizations that is used exclusively to purchase food, and may not be used to pay for other nutrition-related services or for state or local administrative costs. States may choose to receive the grant as cash, commodities or a combination of cash and commodities.
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Data Highlight Extensive Services Provided to Older individuals
FY 2007 output data for Nutrition Services highlights the number of meals provided by these programs and the number of older individuals served:
- Home-Delivered Nutrition Services provided 141 million meals to over 916,000 individuals.
- Congregate Nutrition Services, provided over 94.8 million meals to more than 1.6 million older individuals in a variety of community settings.
For more information on OAA service data see the Aging Network's State Program Reports.
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Funding History
Congregate Nutrition Services Funding during the past four years is as follows:
| FY 2005 |
$387,274,000 |
| FY 2006 |
$385,054,000 |
| FY 2007 |
$398,919,000 |
| FY 2008 |
$410,716,000 |
| FY 2009 |
$434,269,000 |
Home-Delivered Nutrition Services Funding during the past four years is as follows:
| FY 2005 |
$182,826,000 |
| FY 2006 |
$181,780,000 |
| FY 2007 |
$188,305,000 |
| FY 2008 |
$193,858,000 |
| FY 2009 |
$214,459,000 |
Nutrition Services Incentive Program Funding during the past four years is as follows:
| FY 2005 |
$148,596,000 |
| FY 2006 |
$147,744,000 |
| FY 2007 |
$147,846,000 |
| FY 2008 |
$153,429,000 |
| FY 2009 |
$161,015 |
Total Title III Funding for Nutrition Services during the past four years is as follows:
| FY 2005 |
$718,696,000 |
| FY 2006 |
$714,578,000 |
| FY 2007 |
$735,070,000 |
| FY 2008 |
$758,003,000 |
| FY 2009 |
$809,743,000
|
Title III state allocations
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Resources and Useful Links
- Implementing the OAA Nutrition Program nutrition quality standards
- Hunger and food insecurity
- OAA Nutrition Program results and outcomes
- Nutrition materials for consumers
- USDA Food Assistance Programs for older adults
- National nutrition organizations
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| Last Modified: 7/16/2009 8:53:57 AM |
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