AgeOptions and Health Care Providers to Work Together to Reduce Food Insecurity and Nutrition Risk Among Older Adults
AgeOptions is one of five agencies nationwide to receive a two-year grant supporting innovations in nutrition programs and services from the U.S. Administration for Community Living. Rush University Medical Center and Oak Street Health will work with AgeOptions on a project to increase the likelihood that patients who are experiencing food insecurity and/or are at nutrition risk will receive and act upon referrals to community-based resources.
The project also aims to increase referrals from health care providers to nutrition programs and increase patient access to and utilization of nutrition programs, benefit programs (SNAP, Medicaid, etc.), and evidence-based wellness programs. Findings will be shared with the aging network and Congress.
"This grant provides us with an amazing opportunity to demonstrate the transformational value of home-delivered meals and related aging network services as we work with top-notch health care providers to meet the needs of at-risk older adults," said Diane Slezak, AgeOptions chief operating officer.
Anticipated outcomes are:
• Older adults will have increased access to nutritious food that meets medically necessary health requirements
• Continuity of care between community and clinical settings will be established and enhanced
• Health care providers will prove a reduction in health care expenses for referred patients
• Analysis will reveal the long-term financial viability of maintaining and expanding the referral system
A sustainability plan will be developed to support the initiative in the future.
The Administration for Community Living awarded the grants to innovative projects that will enhance the quality, effectiveness and outcomes of nutrition services programs provided by the national aging services network. Through the grant program, ACL aims to identify innovative and promising practices that can be scaled across the country and to increase use of evidence-informed practices within nutrition programs.
AgeOptions and its network of community agencies are the principal source of information regarding senior services in suburban Cook County, Ill. A nonprofit organization located in Oak Park, AgeOptions has served the older adults of suburban Cook County and their caregivers as an Area Agency on Aging since 1974. For more information, please visit the Agency website at www.ageoptions.org, or our Facebook and YouTube sites:
AgeOptions connects adults age 60 and over with resources and service options so they can live their lives to the fullest and remain in their homes as long as possible. In 2017, with our partner community-based agencies, we served 155,338 individuals in 130 communities within 30 townships that have a diverse population of more than 480,000 older adults. AgeOptions advocates, plans, develops and funds programs and coordinates a network of community-based senior service agencies to ensure an effective and efficient system of service delivery. Support is provided through the Older Americans Act, Illinois General Revenue Funds, local funds and individual contributions.