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Senior Resources Celebrates Nationwide 50th Anniversary of Senior Nutrition Programs

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March 18, 2022

This March, Senior Resources joins the Administration for Community Living and senior nutrition service providers across the country to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the national Senior Nutrition Program.

Since 1972, the Senior Nutrition Program has supported nutrition services for older adults. Funded by the Older Americans Act, local senior nutrition programs serve as hubs for older adults (60 and older) to access nutritious meals and other vital services that strengthen social connections and promote health and well-being.

“Over the last fifty years, Senior Nutrition Programs have proven to be a vital and economical service to keep older adults healthy and independent,” said Andrew Boozer, Executive Director of Senior Resources. “Through these meals and social connections with Meals on Wheels volunteers and at local senior center programs, seniors are able to live more fully in their own homes as they age. Nutrition programs not only provide a better quality of life, but they also save seniors, their families, and the healthcare system valuable resources as these programs prevent medical and institutional care. Today we celebrate the accomplishments of the last fifty years and look forward to the next fifty years of keeping seniors healthy.”

Senior nutrition is now more important than ever. Each year in the U.S., up to half of adults age 65 and older are at risk of malnutrition, and more than 10 million face hunger. According to the South Carolina Department on Aging (2022), our state will see nearly 1.8 million seniors in 2030, with nearly 11.5% currently living in poverty. In addition, over a third of seniors live on Social Security alone and over half of those over 55 years old have less than $50,000 saved for retirement. As the only provider of Meals on Wheels in Richland County, our program currently serves over 600 homebound seniors with a hot, nutritious meal. The daily visit from the Meals on Wheels volunteer is often the only social interaction our clients experience each day, so it also serves as an important safety check.

For 50 years, senior nutrition services have helped create healthy, strong communities where all members can flourish regardless of their age. That’s why we proudly recognize this milestone anniversary of the national Senior Nutrition Program and its tremendous impact on the health and well-being of older adults in our community. Join us in celebrating local seniors, our program, and our community. Together, we look forward to another 50 years and beyond!

To commemorate this anniversary, next week Senior Resources will have our very own “Community Champions” which include local, state and federal officials, local celebrities and other prominent community figures deliver meals to our Meals on Wheels clients. We will also provide our Meals on Wheels clients with additional support with a delivery of shelf stable food to keep for days of inclement weather or other emergencies and hygiene kits.