An Examination of Demographic, Socio-Cultural, and Health Differences Between Congregate and Home Diners in a Senior Nutrition Program

Abstract

Building upon prior research, this study investigates characteristics of participants in a senior nutrition program in Hillsborough County, Florida. The Senior Citizens Nutrition and Activities Program serves approximately 2,600 meals per day to county residents 60 years of age and over. In this study, a sample of 1,071 participants are surveyed for background characteristics, interpersonal relationships and emotional closeness, health and economic condition, emotional condition, and participation in the program. Crosstabular analyses are performed on the collected data with age, sex, and race controlled. The results indicate that the program is reaching its goals of promoting good health among the older population of Hillsborough County by providing nutritious meals and reducing social isolation, which often accompanies aging.

An Examination of the Effects of Self-Rated and Objective Indicators of Health Condition and Economic Condition on the Loneliness of Older Persons

“…As shown by a series of cross-tabular analyses, those from the congregate sites in comparison to those from the home-delivered sites expressed a better subjectively assessed health, were financially less strapped, and were less lonely (Smith, Mullins, Mushel, Roorda, & Colquitt, 1994).…”

"Outings to Your Taste": A Nutrition Program for the Elderly

“…The findings reported here provide evidence for the feasibility of implementing a new nutritional program for elderly people with reduced autonomy. The intervention is innovative in that it combines nutritional support at home with an activity designed to reduce this clientele's isolation; this is an intervention strategy often put forward as a means for improving the nutritional status of this vulnerable group (Locher et al, 1997;Smith et al, 1994;Weddle et al, 1997). It is also of interest that the volunteer resources required for the program's implementation are similar to the norm usually required, at least by one of the sponsoring agencies.…”

“…This is particularly true for seniors, who are more likely to have fewer resources and to face disabilities that may act as barriers in terms of access to food, its preparation, and its consumption. Clients of home-care services are certainly vulnerable in this respect, given the high prevalence of loneliness and weak social relationships in this group (Payette et al, 1995;Smith, Mullins, Mushel, Roorda, & Colquitt, 1994;Weddle et al, 1997).…”

“…Given the above-mentioned findings, it has been suggested that socialization opportunities or companionship programs be incorporated into homedelivered meal programs (Locher, Burgio, Yoels, & Ritchie, 1997;Smith et al, 1994;Weddle et al, 1997). Congregate meals in the community have already demonstrated their capacity to promote socialization for seniors (Neyman, Zidenberg-Cheer, & Mc-Donald, 1996;Smith et al, 1994). However, because travel is required, such activities may be more readily accessible to healthy elderly people who are living independently.…”

Living life to the fullest: Well elders’ views of hip fracture

“…(Herndon, 1995;Rittner & Kirk, 1995;Smith, Mullins, Mushel, & Roorda, 1994;Wagner, Schuetze, & Lang, 1999). There is also some evidence to suggest that lower levels of social support are associated both with fear of falling and activity curtailment among older adults (Howland et al, 1998).…”