Eastern Area Agency on Aging provides a variety of options for older adults, disabled adults, and caregivers for nutritional health. Our programs nearly tripled in demand during the pandemic and our staff and volunteers did an amazing job mitigating food insecurity while maintaining safe protocols for our consumers and themselves.
Funding has dissipated along with the pandemic. However, consumers are still seeking nutritional support through Eastern Area Agency on Aging (EAAA) programs. The challenge for our dedicated team is to bridge the gap between the Nutrition budget at EAAA and the actual consumer demand. Without belaboring the situation, in FY24 (October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024, our agency is facing a 5.5% meal cost increase, travel costs continue to increase, personnel increase to retain our excellent staff, and general operations continue to plague the budget.
Those over age 60 or disabled have a Meal on Wheels assessment to determine needs and eligibility; this measurement goes beyond nutrition concerns and asks about transportation, bathing, walking, medication, and more, all of which helps EAAA staff to provide best options for each individual. Meals on Wheels is often a lifeline for both meals and human interaction and is enhanced by information on other EAAA services and options. Additionally, options of medically tailored meals improve healthy lifestyles; our meal vendor, Birch Stream Farms, has provided with a useful document of dietary meal options that we will provide you with if interested. Reducing diet related health disparities includes meals, interaction with delivery person, connection to other aging supports, and information on healthy eating. Staff and volunteers keep an eye on individuals with volunteers providing the majority of deliveries of meals. Volunteer networking and appreciation helps with community connection and enabling homebound, and transportation challenged individuals to still feel independence and part of their community. At times, there are those who go on and off Meals on Wheels as needs change, yet with volunteers knowing their community, the connection will be established and meals available as needed.
With the need to feed a projection of over 200,000 home delivered meals, EAAA staff continues to serve a large area and people that may not travel, are homebound, or aging in place. We want to avoid a waitlist; this would mean implementation of a list of older adults needing meals but that our revenue cannot support. Our home delivered meals provide one avenue of nutritional support and community connection. Meals on Wheels, a long-established national program, is the very core of services for older adults in the EAAA region. While anticipating small increases in consumer capacity, inflationary costs of meals and operations means that we need support to continue to purchase meals and provide the level of service that Mainers need to live independently and meaningfully. Promotion and local networking will keep people informed of support options available beyond nutrition services.
Another nutrition service is Community Cafes, providing warm meals and socialization. Community cafes, or congregate dining, afford a local dining option for those who want socialization. Opening cautiously with the pandemic, the Nutrition Director first opened the Durgin Center Cafe. As community cafe interest grows, funding will enhance the capacity for more diners to find their place at a community table. Enhancement of capacity now means that we have grown to 4 community cafes serving warm meals, socialization, EAAA resource options, and the development of local networking to reach further into our communities. Currently, there are satellite cafes in Brooksville, Millinocket, and Milo; cafes are becoming gathering spots for older individuals who want to be with others. As the idea of EAAA staff and volunteers providing access to all services out in communities takes off, locations will expand. Going local provides community connection and also builds local awareness of supports for aging Mainers.
Eastern Area Agency on Aging seeks your help to deliver meals to those in need and also, to serve meals at our Community Cafes. Each of these Nutrition Programs supports older adults in our vast 4-county region. Benefiting from nutritious meals, older adults will not only mitigate the challenges of aging but have options for healthier living and avoidance of unexpected health care costs while reducing the financial stress of food costs. The result of being proactive in providing food security are multi-level and surely funding humanitarian food programs makes great economic sense while reducing immediate need.
Thank you for your time and consideration of the work being done to mitigate food insecurity through the Eastern Area Agency on Aging's Nutrition Services.
