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Publication Date: April 2004
Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Author(s):
Research Area: Health; Population and demographics
Type:
Abstract:
The elderly nutrition program, authorized under Title III of the Older Americans Act, provides grants to state agencies on aging to support congregate and homedelivered meals to persons 60 years and older. The program is designed to address problems of dietary inadequacy and social isolation among older persons. It is the largest Older Americans Act program, funded at $714.5 million in FY2004, accounting for 40% of the act's funding. The home-delivered nutrition program has grown dramatically in recent years. From 1980 to 2002, the number of home-delivered meals served grew by almost 290%, while the number of congregate meals served actually declined by 18%. The faster growth in home-delivered meals is due to increased growth in federal funding as well as state actions to meet the needs of frail older persons living at home.
The 106th Congress approved the Older Americans Act Amendments of 2000 (H.R. 782, P.L. 106-501) extending the act's authorization of appropriations through FY2005. The act is scheduled to be reviewed for reauthorization by the 109th Congress.