Nutrition is a key factor supporting healthy aging. Yet during the global COVID-19 pandemic, issuances of shelter-in-place orders, closures of senior centers and other congregate dining locations, losses of income, increases in grocery prices, and other changes have left many older adults struggling to maintain good nutrition. However, there are available solutions to improve the nutrition of millions of older adults who may be challenged to put food on the table. This commentary outlines the problems of older adult malnutrition and food insecurity and their strong correlation with COVID-19. It summarizes existing federal nutrition programs for older adults, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Older Americans Act (OAA) nutrition programs and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s means-tested nutrition programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The commentary also contains lessons from community-based OAA nutrition programs that refocused some of their nutrition services and other supportive services during the COVID-19 pandemic to better serve socially distancing, newly homebound older adults. It explores pre- and post-COVID-19 policy actions and opportunities for improving the nutrition, health, and well-being of community-dwelling older Americans during the current pandemic and beyond, including the need for more federal funding and flexibility for older adult nutrition programs, the need for improvements to older adult access to these programs, and the need for more older adult nutrition screening and intervention.

Malnutrition, a caloric or nutrient imbalance, is particularly common in the older adult population, and food insecurity is a rising concern. This paper will discuss the incidence of malnutrition and food insecurity in the older adult population. It will also discuss federal and state programs in place that work to prevent and combat malnutrition. It will provide strategies for aging network members to engage in these policy discussions.

This symposium will provide an update on older adult nutrition policy, including background on the issues of older adult malnutrition and food insecurity. The federal policy update will include discussion of the Older Americans Act nutrition programs and their reauthorization progress, older adult programs under the US Department of Agriculture, and advances in nutrition services being made in healthcare programs such as Medicare Advantage and managed long-term care services and supports. It will also discuss funding for federal older adult nutrition programs and their sustainability moving forward.

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