Introduction The Older Americans Act was enacted over 50 years ago in 1965 order to provide millions of elderly U.S. citizens much-needed home and community services (Blancato, 2014). Even though it has been changed and updated over fourteen times, its primary goal is to continue to help older adults remain as independent as possible by staying either in their community or in their homes (Blancato, 2014). In order for elderly people to live in their homes and communities longer, they often need help from family caregivers. There are also residential alternatives which offer supportive services and care in an environment that is homey so that the elderly can avoid spending their last days in a cold and impersonal institutional setting.
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“In 2014, 3 million households with a senior aged 65+ experienced food insecurity” (“Economic security for seniors,”n.d., par.5). Over half of the funds that Congress approves for the OAA goes towards nutrition programs (Blancato, 2014). It provides individuals who are low-income and 60 or older access to healthy meals, nutrition education, and nutrition counseling (“Administration on Aging Nutrition Services,” n.d.). Over 900,000 meals a day are served every day to those in need (“Administration on Aging Nutrition Services,” n.d.). One of the programs created under the Older Americans Act is Meals on Wheels. This organization delivers meals to older individuals who are unable to buy food or cook for themselves. Many older people try to stretch the two meals that are delivered to them during the week to cover both breakfast and weekend meals (Levin, 2015). They also purchase the cheapest foods they can afford to fill up on, which usually lack any nutritional value (Levin, 2015). Eating healthy is especially important for elderly people and their overall mental and physical health. Malnutrition is not only due to a lack of food, but to nutrient deficiencies as well (Larsen, 2014). That is why nutritional programs such as Meals on Wheels is vital to the elderly and more funding needs to be allocated to provide meals and nutrition guidance to all elderly …show more content…
1). Unfortunately, the funding for the OAA is not keeping up with the ever increasing growth of our elderly population and is being held level or even decreasing from previous years (Day, 2016). There were about 50 million people in the U.S. over the age of 60 in 2003 and this number has been increasing each year (“Economic Security for Seniors,” n.d.). The funding that is provided for this population is not adequate as it only allocates about $74 for each elderly American who is over the age of 60 (“Economic Security for Seniors,”
“In 2014, 3 million households with a senior aged 65+ experienced food insecurity” (“Economic security for seniors,”n.d., par.5). Over half of the funds that Congress approves for the OAA goes towards nutrition programs (Blancato, 2014). It provides individuals who are low-income and 60 or older access to healthy meals, nutrition education, and nutrition counseling (“Administration on Aging Nutrition Services,” n.d.). Over 900,000 meals a day are served every day to those in need (“Administration on Aging Nutrition Services,” n.d.). One of the programs created under the Older Americans Act is Meals on Wheels. This organization delivers meals to older individuals who are unable to buy food or cook for themselves. Many older people try to stretch the two meals that are delivered to them during the week to cover both breakfast and weekend meals (Levin, 2015). They also purchase the cheapest foods they can afford to fill up on, which usually lack any nutritional value (Levin, 2015). Eating healthy is especially important for elderly people and their overall mental and physical health. Malnutrition is not only due to a lack of food, but to nutrient deficiencies as well (Larsen, 2014). That is why nutritional programs such as Meals on Wheels is vital to the elderly and more funding needs to be allocated to provide meals and nutrition guidance to all elderly …show more content…
1). Unfortunately, the funding for the OAA is not keeping up with the ever increasing growth of our elderly population and is being held level or even decreasing from previous years (Day, 2016). There were about 50 million people in the U.S. over the age of 60 in 2003 and this number has been increasing each year (“Economic Security for Seniors,” n.d.). The funding that is provided for this population is not adequate as it only allocates about $74 for each elderly American who is over the age of 60 (“Economic Security for Seniors,”