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I have been working in the
aging network for over 20 years. During this time, our
network and our communities have faced their fair share of
obstacles – especially over these last several years, which
have stretched us more than I can ever recall in my career.
But if there is one thing I have learned, it is that these
challenging times give us the chance to grow. They require
us to step outside of our comfort zone, and they give us
the opportunity to improve ourselves and our services.
Often, our best selves are found on the other side of a
challenge.
This is certainly true of our senior nutrition programs.
Each day, these programs – funded by the Older Americans
Act and administered by ACL’s Office of Nutrition and
Health Promotion Programs (ONHPP) – continue to make a
difference in the lives of millions of older adults across
the country. Many older Americans face food insecurity,
hunger, malnutrition, and social isolation. Senior
nutrition programs provide nutritious food, social
connection, and help to promote health and wellbeing. The
impact of this vital work has been backed by research and
evaluation showing that the older adults who attend our
nutrition programs experience many positive benefits, such
as improved health and reduced social isolation.
Our programs have faced many challenges over the years, and
I continue to be impressed with how they have embraced each
obstacle as a chance to grow and change. While the
population we serve is increasing in number and diversity,
our programs are finding innovative ways to meet older
adults where they are, taking into account their unique
situations, comfort levels, and other factors that can
affect participation. Solutions have included everything
from offering grab-and-go meals to expanding home-delivered
meal options.
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Outside congregate sites
have also become a popular modification during the summer
months – with food trucks at parks, tailgates in parking
lots, and parties at picnic pavilions. Recently, our very
own Kathy Wilson-Gold, ONHPP’s Nutrition Business
Consultant, attended one of these outdoor sites at the
Oklahoma County Senior Nutrition Program’s “Picnic in the
Park.”
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Picnic in the Park was
an opportunity to celebrate summer and the 50th
anniversary of the Senior Nutrition Program. It was a
beautiful day filled with delicious food, live music,
dancing, and smiles. Looking at photos from the event
brought back some of the best memories of my career –
seeing the joy on the faces of program participants as
they mingled with staff and peers.
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We at ACL are here to support senior nutrition programs as
they overcome each obstacle, learn, and grow. To do this,
we and our Nutrition
and Aging Resource Center have some new and
upcoming resources that I would like to highlight:
- Our new promotional video
features program participants and other members of the
network sharing their thoughts on the value of the
Senior Nutrition Program. We hope you will use this
video as a marketing tool in your local area and share
it with your teams so they can understand the impact
of the important work you do every day.
- As we move into fall and face
colder temperatures, increasing participation at
congregate sites may again present challenges. Our webinar
tomorrow (September 29) will share the
latest insights into why older adults choose to attend
congregate meal programs and ideas for encouraging
participation. A panel of senior nutrition network
members will discuss how these insights challenge
their thinking as they define their new congregate
environments. I encourage you to join as the results
may surprise you – they surprised me!
- Also on the horizon, Kathy
Wilson-Gold will be highlighting some great tools and
tips for senior nutrition programs through our new
“Recipes for Success” series. Join her as she guides
you through ACL resources available to help you manage
your program.
I am proud to be a member
of the aging network and I look forward to continuing to
work together – despite challenging times – to improve our
services and our communities.
Happening
Now: White House Conference
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The Biden-Harris
Administration is hosting the White House Conference
on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. The Administration
is also releasing a National Strategy that includes steps
the government will take to drive solutions to challenges
and catalyze the public and private sectors to address
food, hunger, nutrition, and health. Watch the live stream.
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