Good for the elderly
Check Eligibility People age 60 or older. Meet home delivered meal eligibility requirements. Individuals with disabilities who live at home with their caregivers who are eligible seniors.
The Congregate Nutrition program serves individuals age 60 and older, and in some cases, their caregivers, spouses, and/or persons with disabilities.
Not only can a senior citizen get a free, nutritious USDA approved hot meal or lunch or grocery bag of Ensure nutritional supplements, but they can also have the opportunity to socialize with their peers. The process will also allow them to attend workshops and get support from the community.
Home delivered meals may be provided to adults age 60 and older who are homebound or isolated.
The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has programs that cater to our nation’s seniors, age 60 and over. The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) helps adult care centers provide nutritious foods for older adults and adults with disabilities.
The Older Americans Act (OAA) Nutrition Programs, part of the Administration on Aging within the Administration for Community Living, provide grants to states to help support nutrition services for older people throughout the country.
Three of USDA’s nutrition assistance programs are exclusively for seniors; the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, and the Nutrition Services Incentive Program which is run in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living.
The USDA operates a program called The Emergency Food Assistance Program, or TEFAP. This program is designed to help supplement the diets of low income Americans and specifically offers free food for seniors.
So what is considered low income for a senior citizen? According to the Federal government guidelines, a low-income senior is defined as any individual who has attained the age of 60 and has an income of less than $30,000 a year, which equates to about $2,450 a month, or about $80 a day.
Freebies for seniors are especially important if you are living on little income.
What Is the Recommended Daily Nutrition for Seniors?
Persons 60 years of age and older who are homebound (unable to drive) and are in need of substantial support in at least two areas of daily functioning (based on an assessment) are eligible to receive Meals on Wheels.
Definition and Purpose The Senior Nutrition Program consists of both Congregate and Home-Delivered Nutrition Services to help increase the nutrient intake of older individuals who might not eat adequately, and, through better nutrition, assist them to remain healthy and independent in their communities.
Under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), seniors may qualify for food stamps (now called “food assistance”) to help buy food.
The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), often called “the senior box program”, serves 619,000 low-income seniors with incomes of less than 130 percent of the Federal Poverty Line (approximately $15,301 for a senior living alone).
Eat a wide variety of foods from the five food groups: plenty of colourful vegetables, legumes/beans; fruit; grain (cereal) foods, mostly wholegrain and high fibre varieties; lean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts and seeds; milk, yoghurt, cheese or their alternatives, mostly reduced fat.