New Issue Brief from the Evaluation of the Nutrition Services Program: An Examination of Social Activities at Congregate Meals Sites and Their Role in Improving Socialization Outcomes of Participants

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) conducted a three-part evaluation of its Title III-C Nutrition Services Program (NSP). The Process Evaluation, Cost Study, and two reports from the Outcome Evaluation have previously been released.

ACL is now releasing an issue brief based on surveys of local service providers and participants at congregate meal sites: An Examination of Social Activities at Congregate Meal Sites and Their Role in Improving Socialization Outcomes of Participants.

This issue brief examines the types of congregate meal sites that offer social activities and whether the effect of congregate meal participation on socialization outcomes differs for participants who attend meal sites that offer social activities and those who attend meal sites that do not offer these activities. For example:

Congregate meals sites that provided a variety of nutrition and non-nutrition services were much more likely than those that did not provide such services to offer social activities:

81% of sites that provided nutrition counseling also offered social activities
76% of sites that provided transportation also offered social activities
76% of sites that provided case management also offered social activities
73% of sites that provided nutrition education also offered social activities

The percentage of participants who were very satisfied with their opportunities for socialization was greater at sites that offered social activities than at sites that did not (71% vs. 59%).

***

Visit Nutrition Services for more information about this program. Learn more about ACL's Program Evaluations and Reports.