Seven-year-old Alicyn and Grandma Betty volunteered together for Meals on Wheels in Marney, Iowa.
November 24, 2025
By: Bambi Press, RD, LD, Healthy Aging Director, Aging and Disability Services Division Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Nutrition and Aging Resource Center
As Healthy Aging Coordinator for the Nutrition and Aging Resource Center, I have the honor of working with the Older Americans Act Senior Nutrition Program (SNP), which serves nearly one million congregate and home delivered meals to older adults each day through a network of about 5,000 local providers.
In addition to reducing hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition, SNP services promote socialization, prevent isolation, and advance the health and well-being of older persons. Nutrition services are often the first home- and community-based services older adults receive, and SNP providers may be the first to recognize the warning signs of abuse, neglect and/or malnutrition among the older adults served. While mandatory reporting requirements vary by state, many nutrition programs already provide such training for staff and volunteers. Elder abuse professionals can actively partner with the SNP to improve awareness and response, strengthen referral pathways, and build a more robust safety net for older adults.
My colleague and dear friend Alicyn Reimer, the Adult Abuse Prevention, Awareness and Coordination Officer with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services offers SNP volunteers, program participants, and caregivers resources like What is Elder Abuse? These materials can help staff recognize the signs of abuse and neglect, including behavioral indicators that might raise concerns about suspected abuse. Resources may also help older adults identify and protect themselves from financial exploitation.
The SNP is about so much more than food; it is strategically designed to prevent social isolation, a key factor in reducing vulnerability. As Alicyn pointed out, “sharing meals together is one of the most ancient rituals to build community; the more support and community people have, the stronger they are.” To learn more about how the SNP improves social connection for older adults and caregivers, check out Social Isolation & Connection from the Nutrition and Aging Resource Center.
Importantly, malnutrition may be associated with abuse or neglect of an older person. Malnutrition occurs when too much, too little, or an imbalance of protein, calories, or other nutrients lead to adverse effects on a person’s body and function. According to Defeat Malnutrition Today, malnutrition-related hospital stays are twice as long and more likely to result in death among older adults. About one in two older adults is at risk for malnutrition, costing over $51 billon in the US annually.
Malnutrition resulting from abuse or neglect can be complicated to identify, often requiring a multidisciplinary team of experts. Consider sharing resources such as Aging Network’s Role in Identifying Malnutrition and Abuse from the Nutrition and Aging Resource Center with your local nutrition program; it describes actions that the SNP can take to identify and address malnutrition, including working with the appropriate experts when abuse or neglect is suspected. For more information about how the SNP reduces malnutrition in older adults, check out Malnutrition | ACL Administration for Community Living.
Besides prevention and response, the SNP is a resiliency strategy. According to Alicyn, participating in nutrition services and the socialization opportunities they provide is a great way to help a person recover their sense of self-worth after experiencing abuse. The SNP helps older adults rebuild and expand their social networks, so people can age with greater independence, dignity and safety. To connect with a Senior Nutrition Program, contact your area agency on aging or visit Eldercare Locator today!