Date: Wednesday, July 31, 1996
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Moya Benoit Thompson (202) 401-4541

HHS Releases Results of National Evaluation of the Elderly Nutrition Program

Federal nutrition programs for the elderly are highly successful public-private partnerships that unite local communities in cost-effective ways to better serve a growing aging population, according to an evaluation of the elderly nutrition programs of the Older Americans Act released today. These programs include meals at senior centers as well as home-delivered meals, often referred to as "meals-on-wheels."

The congressionally-authorized evaluation, which was commissioned by the Department of Health and Human Services, is the first comprehensive evaluation of the Older Americans Act nutrition programs since 1983, and the first time the nutrition programs for Native American elders have ever been evaluated.

"As we work to find better and more efficient ways to run federal programs, I am pleased to highlight this important program for the elderly," said HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala. "This evaluation demonstrates that these programs help older Americans remain in their communities, receive significant financial and voluntary support from participants and local communities, and are a bargain for the federal government."

The evaluation, "Serving Elders at Risk, the Older Americans Act Nutrition Programs, National Evaluation of the Elderly Nutrition Program, 1993-1995," was conducted by Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. in conjunction with the University of Minnesota. The Administration on Aging funds the largest U.S. community nutrition program for older persons, and works closely with its network of state and area agencies on aging, tribal organizations and service providers to provide adequate nutrition for the elderly. In 1992, Congress authorized HHS to conduct an evaluation of the elderly nutrition programs in order to assess its impact, effectiveness and efficiency.

The evaluation contains a number of key findings:

• Federal elderly nutrition program dollars are highly leveraged with money from other sources, such as state, local and private funds, donations, and participant contributions. Older Americans Act funding accounts for 37 percent of congregate costs, and 23 percent of home-delivered costs.
• Despite participants' low income levels, voluntary personal contributions account for 20 percent of meal costs.
• Congregate and home-delivered meals programs successfully target poor, near poor and minority elderly people.
• The majority of those receiving home-delivered meals have never participated in a congregate meal program, dispelling the myth that most home-delivered participants are the large numbers of congregate participants who have "aged in place."
• Most nutrition projects report that hospitals and nursing homes are the first and second most common source of referral for home-delivered participants.
• Forty-one percent of home-delivered meals programs have waiting lists highlighting the need for more focused attention on this particular part of the elderly nutrition programs as the aging population grows.
• Federal elderly nutrition program grants to tribal organizations are the primary source of funding for elderly nutrition programs for Native American elders.

Nationally, the elderly nutrition program provides an average of 1 million meals per day to older Americans. In FY 1994, 127 million meals were served to 2.3 million people at congregate sites, and more than 113 million home-delivered meals were provided to 877,000 homebound elderly people. In addition, the program provides key nutrition services such as nutrition screening, assessment, education, and counseling.

"As our nation's aging population increases, it is important that we acknowledge the crucial role nutrition services play in our ability to provide home and community-based care for older persons and individuals with disabilities. These programs provide much more than just a meal. They are the basis for social, health and long term care protection for the elderly," said Fernando M. Torres-Gil, assistant secretary for aging.

Funding for the study was provided by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation and the Administration on Aging.

To receive a copy of the executive summary of the evaluation, please contact Jean Lloyd at 202/619-0011 or the National Aging Information Center at 202/554-9800. The executive summary will also be available shortly on the Administration on Aging's Home Page at http://www.aoa.dhhs.gov/aoa/pages/nutreval.html.

Note: HHS press releases are available on the World Wide Web at: http://www.hhs.gov.