The Congregate Meals Program serves nutritious meals to older adults in a group setting. Since adequate nutrition is critical to health, functioning, and the quality of life, the Congregate Meals Program is an important component of community-based services for older adults.
Program Goals:
Reduce hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition
Offer opportunities to socialize, form new friendships, and create informal support networks
Serve older adults with the greatest economic or social need, with particular attention to low-income, minority older individuals, and older individuals living in rural areas
Eligibility:
Adults 60 or older, or
The spouse of an older adult participating in the program, regardless of age, or
A person with a disability who lives at a site where the Congregate Meals Program is provided, or lives with and accompanies an older adult who participates in the program
Program Features:
Provides nutritious meals that meet the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and provide a minimum of one-third of the Dietary Reference Intakes in each meal
Provides nutrition education and nutrition risk screening and, in some areas, nutrition counseling
Encourages the recruitment of volunteers and gives all participants the opportunity to contribute to the cost of the meal