U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand held a video press conference to call for $1.842 billion in funding for the Older Americans Act (OAA) Title III-C Nutrition Program, which provides affordable meals to older adults. The funding will help deliver 251 million nutritious meals to 2.2 million older adults facing hunger nationwide, helping meet increasing demand for nutrition programs amid high grocery prices. Senator Gillibrand sent a bicameral letter calling on congressional leadership and appropriators to deliver this funding as part of the FY25 government funding package.
“Low-cost meal deliveries are a lifeline for older Americans, especially as food prices remain high,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Nutrition programs help seniors on fixed incomes access nutritious food they might not otherwise be able to afford; ensure that disabled seniors don’t go hungry because they cannot get to the grocery store; and provide homebound seniors with much-needed social interaction. That’s why I’m calling for $1.842 billion to fund these programs, which allow our seniors to stay healthy and age with dignity in their own homes.”
Senior nutrition programs help organizations like Meals on Wheels deliver nutritious food directly to seniors in need. They are associated with a variety of positive outcomes, including the reduction of hunger, food insecurity, malnutrition, social isolation, and health care costs.
The full text of Senator Gillibrand’s letter to House and Senate appropriators is available here or below:
Dear Chair Murray, Vice Chair Collins, and Chairman Cole, and Ranking Member DeLauro:
Thank you for the Committee’s bipartisan leadership in providing resources to the Older Americans Act (OAA) Title III-C Nutrition Program.
As you consider the FY 2025 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, we urge you to continue to provide sufficient funding for the OAA Title III-C Nutrition Program. This funding enables the delivery of 251 million nutritious meals annually to 2.2 million older adults facing hunger and isolation. To meet these needs address rising demand and higher costs for food and program operations that have resulted in significant waitlists at numerous programs across the country, we request at least $1.842 billion for the OAA Title III-C Nutrition Services program to continue administering essential nutrition programs that support the health and wellness of our nation’s most vulnerable older adults. This program has historically been backed by bipartisan support.
Since 1972, the OAA Nutrition Program has been successfully meeting its purposes to: reduce hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition of older adults; promote socialization of older individuals; and promote the health and well-being of older people. By providing nutritious meals and social connection delivered in congregate settings, such as senior centers, or directly to one’s home, Title III-C Nutrition Programs allow older adults to age in the dignity and security of their own homes. These nutrition services also reduce costly healthcare expenditures stemming from preventable hospitalizations and premature nursing home placements. Put simply, this effective community-based and federally supported program improves senior health, safety, social connection and more while simultaneously saves healthcare funds.
The number of Americans 65 years and older is increasing. Currently 1 in 4 Americans is older than 60, with 12,000 more turning 60 every day. By 2030 the number of older adults is expected to reach 91 million, with 112 million expected by 2060. Demand for OAA services is expected to increase in the coming years as the older adult population continues to increase.
Food insecurity has long been a problem for older adults. In 2022, at least 7 million older Americans faced food insecurity. The National Council on Aging reports that hunger is more likely for older Americans who are Black, Hispanic, or Native American, who have lower incomes, or who have a disability. Mental health is also affected by food insecurity as 24% of food insecure older adults report fair or poor mental health compared to 5% of food secure older adults.
Economic insecurity is prevalent among older adults with more than 17 million facing incomes below 200% of the federal poverty level. Older adults, particularly those who are vulnerable and underserved, are disproportionately sensitive to rising food prices with many financially dependent on fixed incomes. Data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) show that the all-food Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by a total of 20.4%, higher than the all-items CPI which only grew at 16.5%. These prices were 2.3% in 2024 than in 2023. Increasing food costs affect nutrition delivery services which would need an estimated $32 million in federal funding just to offset FY25 inflation. About one in four older adults 65+ already scrimp on food, utilities, clothing, or medication to pay for medical care. Economic and food insecurity in light of rising food costs are specifically problematic to older adults due to decreased mobility, limited shopping and cooking ability, and health challenges.
Services provided under the OAA Title III-C Nutrition Program are shown to improve physical and mental health outcomes among older adults. For example, a Meals on Wheels America report shows that malnourishment and feelings of social isolation improve among participants receiving daily-delivered meals. Older adults receiving regular meals report feeling safer at home. This study also reports that hospitalizations decreased significantly when comparing 3 months before and after enrollment. Feelings of social isolation were significantly improved among those living alone who receive daily-delivered meals.
Meals on Wheels America notes that “A knock at the door might not seem like a big deal to many of us. But, to a homebound senior, it could signal the arrival of the only person they might see all day or all week long. It brings hope. It brings health. It brings the nutrition and care that will completely make their day. A knock from Meals on Wheels can even save lives.”
Investing in the OAA – a program that represents just one-hundredth of 1% of the entire federal budget – saves taxpayer dollars by reducing premature and costly Medicare and Medicaid expenditures resulting from unnecessary nursing home placement or hospitalizations due to poor nutrition and chronic health conditions.
We respectfully request the FY25 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill include at least $1.842 billion for these vital nutrition programs.
These vital OAA services fulfill our nation’s commitment to supporting the right of all people to live independently and age with dignity, regardless of income or location. Thank you.
Sincerely,