Evaluating Nutrition Risk Factors and Other Determinants of Use of an Urban Congregate Meal Program by Older African Americans

Abstract

Rapid growth in both the number of older U.S. adults and diversity in the population suggests increased and disparate demands for nutrition services. Funded by the Older Americans Act (OAA), the primary purpose of congregate meal services is to keep older Americans nutritionally secure and living independently in the community. Understanding characteristics that influence older African Americans' use of congregate meal services is important for development of culturally sensitive networks and program policies. With a sample of 151 community-dwelling older African Americans, a descriptive exploratory design was used to explore predisposing, enabling, and need characteristics that influence use of a congregate meal service and to examine the relationship between nutritional risk and service use. Provider-oriented structural enablers (awareness and transportation) that promote or impinge on elderly persons' use of a congregate meal service were also examined. Multivariate analysis indicated that among program participants, nutrition risk and living arrangement had significant influence on service use. Additionally, nutrition risk was higher among respondents who did not participate in congregate meal service compared to their participant counterparts.

Health Indicators of US Older Adults Who Received or Did Not Receive Meals Funded by the Older Americans Act

“…The goal of OAA is to reach older adults with food insecurity, yet there are instances of inequity among some communities. Weddle and colleagues [ 22 ] reported that, for community-dwelling, older African Americans, nutrition risk was higher among nonparticipants compared to participants of congregate meal services. Home-delivered meals improved dietary status and reduced food insecurity of recipients in 6 out of 8 studies, according to a systematic review [ 23 ].…”

Relationship between living alone and food and nutrient intake

“…All four studies found that persons living alone were more likely than other groups to use these services. [71][72][73][74] Challenges in acquiring and preparing food could also contribute to the lower diversity in food intake seen in persons living alone.…”

Does Participation in Home-Delivered Meals Programs Improve Outcomes for Older Adults? Results of a Systematic Review

“…Thirteen studies included in this review reported on a non-randomized intervention involving home-delivered meals (73, 74,75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85). Most of these involved tweaking or adding something different to existing home-delivered meals programs; these included: adding snacks (73), allowing food choices (74), receiving nutrition education (75), receiving meals post-hospital discharge (76, 78), adding breakfast (79), providing “heart healthy” meals and education (81), adding more meals and snacks (80), taking homebound older adults out to eat (82), adding dietary supplements (84), and providing frozen meals (85).…”

“…Most of these involved tweaking or adding something different to existing home-delivered meals programs; these included: adding snacks (73), allowing food choices (74), receiving nutrition education (75), receiving meals post-hospital discharge (76, 78), adding breakfast (79), providing “heart healthy” meals and education (81), adding more meals and snacks (80), taking homebound older adults out to eat (82), adding dietary supplements (84), and providing frozen meals (85). Some studies were single group designs, while others had a comparison group.…”