Center Initiatives

Through training, technical assistance, information dissemination, knowledge building, policy analysis, and applied research, the National Policy and Resource Center on Nutrition and Aging (Center) helps the Aging Network develop and implement a comprehensive, coordinated national system to increase the quality and years of healthy life. The Center is one specific way the Older Americans Act is beginning to build a food and nutrition infrastructure for its Nutrition Program. The following sections provide information on Center initiatives and projects.

Older Americans Nutrition Program Toolkit (sections posted as completed): A web-based manual providing technical assistance to States and local agencies in the administration of Older American Act Nutrition Programs.

State Units on Aging Nutritionists/Administrators Conference: Linking Nutrition and Health: 30 Years of the Older Americans Act Nutrition Programs (Washington, DC - June 2-4, 2002)

Issue Panel Reports: Dietary Reference Intakes and Dietary Guidelines in Older Americans Act Nutrition Programs (Baltimore, MD - February 11, 2002 and July 17, 2003)

Nutrition 2030: During 1999-2000, the Center addressed nutrition and health disparity issues across the continuum of home and community-based care.

Expert Advisory Council: Strategic Planning Conference, November 8-9, 1999
Outcomes Research Workshop, December 3-4, 1999
Measuring Outcomes White Paper, P Splett & D Weddle
Lessons From Federal Nutrition Assistance Programs White Paper, N Wellman
Technology White Paper, D Boss & M Alfonso
Grass Roots Survey, N Wellman, J Smith, M Alfonso, J Lloyd

Morning Meals on Wheels Breakfast Program Final Report (November 1998): MMOW is a public/private partnership of the U.S. DHHS Administration on Aging, General Mills Foodservice Inc., and the National Policy and Resource Center on Nutrition and Aging. MMOW seeks to increase dietary intake and reduce elder malnutrition risk in frail homebound older adults by providing breakfast as a second meal. When breakfast is planned in conjunction with the noon meal, the two meals together provide at-risk elders with two-thirds of the Recommended Dietary Allowances.

Aging Syllabi Project (2000): This list of syllabi, for both undergraduate and graduate courses, has been compiled to aid faculty in developing courses in nutrition and aging.

Use of Medical Food & Food for Special Dietary Uses in Older Americans Act Nutrition Programs (Backgrounder)
This backgrounder provides information on 1) Roles that conventional food and meals, medical food and food for special dietary uses play in meeting the special nutrition needs of older adults today; and 2) Pertinent regulations and their funding impact on the provision of food and meals, medical food and food for special dietary uses in OAA Nutrition Programs.