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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Nutrition: Home-delivered and Congregate Meal Services for Older Adults

About this resource:

Systematic Review

Source: The Guide to Community Preventive Services

Last Reviewed: December 2021

Workgroups: Nutrition and Weight Status Workgroup, Older Adults Workgroup

The Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) recommends home-delivered and congregate meal services for older adults — age 60 years and older — living independently to reduce malnutrition. CPSTF found that home-delivered meal services also increase energy intake and improve health-related quality of life and well-being. CPSTF found the evidence is insufficient to determine if congregate meal services — those provided in groups settings like senior centers — provide this additional benefit.

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Objectives related to this resource (5)

Reduce household food insecurity and hunger  — NWS‑01
LHI label
Getting worse
Increase fruit consumption by people aged 2 years and over — NWS‑06
Little or no detectable change
Increase vegetable consumption by people aged 2 years and older — NWS‑07
Little or no detectable change
Increase consumption of dark green vegetables, red and orange vegetables, and beans and peas by people aged 2 years and over — NWS‑08
Little or no detectable change
Increase whole grain consumption by people aged 2 years and over — NWS‑09
Getting worse

Suggested Citation

1.

Guide to Community Preventive Services. (2021). Nutrition: Home-delivered and Congregate Meal Services for Older Adults. Retrieved from https://www.thecommunityguide.org/findings/nutrition-home-delivered-and-congregate-meal-services-older-adults