Nutrition Services

Many older people, especially those living alone, tend not to cook for themselves as well as they should. Whether the cost of food or other necessities causes this, or whether it is because of other conditions, maintaining a well-balanced diet is important to staying active and healthy.

To this end, the Older Americans Act places great emphasis on senior nutrition services, in the form of Congregate Meals and Home Delivered Meals.

Both programs, as with all Older Americans Act programs, operate on a contribution basis. At each dining center, a suggested contribution amount is posted. Each participant is given the opportunity to contribute that amount, more than that, less than that, or nothing for the meal; the meal will not be refused based on that individual's inability or unwillingness to pay.

Congregate Meals

Congregate Meals are served in a group setting, and provide not only good nutrition, but equally important, an opportunity for regular socialization with others. Scientific studies have documented that older persons who regularly attend congregate meals have better physical and mental health than those who don't.

All NorthLand dining centers serve a hot noon meal; a few serve breakfast as well. All meals are prepared from menus designed to provide one-third of the recommended dietary allowance for mature adults.

To select a NorthLand dining center click here.

Home Delivered Meals

Some older people may not be healthy enough to come to a dining center for their meals, or they may be recuperating from a health-related event. In that case, NorthLand offers Home Delivered meals. Home Delivered meals are, as one might guess, hot noon meals that are brought to the dwelling place of the older person.

Any older person (and his or her guest of any age) may attend a congregate meal, but only older people who are homebound are eligible to receive a home delivered meal.

We try to encourage anyone who is able to attend a dining center to do so; the benefits of the group setting and concomitant socialization outweigh the temptation to stay at home and eat alone. For that reason, we require periodic determinations that people receiving home delivered meals are homebound.

To select a NorthLand home delivered meals source click here.

Nutrition Education

Both congregate and home delivered participants routinely receive helpful and informative materials pertaining to healthy eating and active lifestyles.

NorthLand also has intensive nutrition counseling available for those who would benefit from that service.

Reservations

Whether for congregate or home delivered meals, we ask-- no, we insist-- that participants make reservations for their meal for the following day. Just as you would want to know how many meals to prepare for your dinner guests, we do too.

Your Resource for Successful Aging