By Dr. Barbara Millen, Boston University, Journal of the American Medical Association, October 22/29, 1997, as reported in the Older Americans Report ©, November 21, 1997. An independent, congressionally-mandated study of the Administration on Aging's Elderly Nutrition Program finds the program is “not only effective, but cost-efficient.” Dr. Barbara Millen of Boston University, who conducted the study along with two researchers from Mathematica Policy Research, called the Elderly Nutrition Program a “wonderful model for community-based long-term care.” In addition to the significant nutrition content it provides, the Elder Nutrition Program potentially helps the elderly live longer, healthier lives by increasing their contact with other people. The study estimated that increase at 17%. One reason the program is so cost-effective Millen indicated, is that it garners more than $2 in state funds, private donations, and other sources for every federal dollar spent. “They're essentially tripling their funding, and I don't know of any other federal program that's doing that,” she said. Study findings were based on interviews with 1,040 people who participate in meal sites and 818 who received meals at home. The survey also included 841 people in a matched control group. Exceeds Nutrition Goal Writing in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Millen said the study found most of the meals served in the program exceed the program's goal of providing one-third of the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for essential nutrients. “They're actually contributing something more on the order of 50-75% of the daily nutrient intake of the (program's) participants,” she said. Overall, the study found the Elder Nutrition Program participants consumed from 5% to 30% more essential nutrients than did people in the control group. For example, the Elderly Nutrition Program participants consumed:
While participants in the Elderly Nutrition Program were “better nourished than controls,” the study found about two-thirds of them are overweight or underweight. Participants going to senior centers and other sites for meals are more likely to be overweight, while participants receiving meals at home are older and more frail, and are more likely to be underweight. In addition, the study noted that the Elderly Nutrition Program fails to reach all the older Americans that need its services. Its 3.2 million participants represent 7% of the overall older population and about 25% of the elderly poor. Millen added that 41% of the local elderly meal sites have waiting lists because they lack money to provide meals for everyone who wants them (OAR, Aug. 22, p. 273). She said the percentage of sites that turn people away is probably higher, because many do not want to needlessly raise expectations they can provide additional meals in the future. ### Note: Meal sites in Southern Illinois are listed in Resource Guide on Aging and senior centers. Return to Surveys and Research |
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