Debbie Gulley: Celebrating 50 Years of Senior Nutrition Program – Tribune

In March, the District 7 Area Office on Aging joined the federal Department of Community Living and senior nutrition service providers across the country and in our communities to celebrate the anniversary of the national senior nutrition program.

Since 1972, the Senior Nutrition Program has supported nutrition services for older adults. Local senior nutrition programs, funded by the Older Adults Act, help older adults (60 and older) access nutritious meals and other important foods that strengthen social connections and promote health and well-being. It acts as a hub where services can be accessed.

Nutrition for seniors is more important than ever. Each year in the United States, up to half of adults over the age of 65 are at risk of malnutrition and more than 10 million people face hunger. In communities across the United States, including our own, older adults sometimes lack access to the high-quality, nutritious foods they need to maintain health and independence.

As part of the Senior Nutrition Program Network, AAA7 supports older adults in our community by promoting healthy eating habits, reducing social isolation, and improving health. Our programs also provide connections to home and community-based services that can support independence and overall well-being. Congregate dining locations within the 10 counties include:

• Adams County – West Union Nutrition Facility, located at 111 West Main Street, and Seaman Nutrition Facility, located in the Seaman Community Building.

• Brown County – Senior nutrition site located in the Georgetown Seniors Building.

• Gallia County – Gallia County Multipurpose Senior Center (1165 State Route 160).

• Highland County – Greenfield Nutrition Site (1300 Jefferson Street) and Highland County Senior Center (185 Muntz Street, Hillsboro) (stand-alone, not part of the AAA7 Senior Nutrition Program).

• Jackson County – Jackson Senior Nutrition Site at 25 Mound Street, Wellston Senior Nutrition Site at 407 New York Avenue South, and Oak Hill Senior Nutrition Site at 115 Glen Cove Road.

• Lawrence County – Senior Center located at the Lawrence County Fairgrounds in Proctorville (stand-alone, not part of the AAA7 Senior Nutrition Program).

• Pike County – Waverly Senior Nutrition Site at the Pike County Senior Center located at 402 Clough Street.

• Ross County – Ross County Senior Center’s Chillicothe Senior Nutrition Site (1824 Western Ave.) and Londonderry Senior Nutrition Site (4923 Vigo Rd).

• Scioto County – Portsmouth Senior Nutrition Site (112-115 Market Street Senior Building)

• Vinton County – MacArthur Senior Nutrition Site located at the Vinton County Senior Center, 31935 State Route 93.

To participate in a group feeding program, an intake assessment will be conducted to determine eligibility. Recommended donations, which are completely voluntary, are determined on a location-by-location basis. Days and times vary by location.

Debbie Gulley is the interim director of the District 7 Area Agency on Aging.