Dieticians and Nutritionists

You can ask your primary care physician or neurologist for a referral to a local dietician or nutritionist if you need extra assistance in putting together a meal plan specific to your medical needs. You can also visit HealthPros.com for a listing of Nutritionists and Dieticians in Alabama.

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Alabama Elderly Nutrition Program

The Elderly Nutrition Program (ENP) provides seniors with nutritious meals and the opportunity to be active while also building new friendships. A variety of services are provided at local senior centers in a social meal setting. In some areas, a meal delivery program is available for homebound seniors who qualify. There is no charge for a meal. Alabama's ENP depends on local community support to help cover senior center costs and volunteers for meal delivery, program activities, and staff support. As with other programs, the participants can make voluntary financial contributions.

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Eligible participants, include:

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• Anyone 60 years of age or older

• Spouses of participants, regardless of age

• Persons with a disability residing with an eligible participant

• Persons with a disability under the age of 60 residing in a living community where the ENP is provided

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Nutrition and Wellness

Scientific evidence shows good nutrition is essential for healthy living and quality life. Adequate nutrition is especially important for older adults because of their increased vulnerability to chronic diseases and conditions which may impair their functionality, ability to live at home in the community, and access to food and nutrition. Proper nutrition is an important part of healthy aging and the prevention or delay of chronic diseases and disease-related disabilities.

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The Elderly Nutrition Program is managed at the state level by a team of Registered Dieticians. Meals and eligibility are coordinated in each county by the local Area Agency on Aging (AAA). In addition, Alabama uses a contract food vendor to plan, prepare and distribute hot meals and frozen meals to seniors. All meals must comply with the most recent U.S. dietary guidelines, as well as provide a minimum of one third (1/3) of the dietary reference intakes for older individuals. Meals are purchased with federal and state dollars. Donations are accepted from participants and other individuals. These donations are put back into the meal program to help provide additional meals to more seniors.

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Congregate and Home Delivered Meals

Congregate meals provide seniors the opportunity to dine in a community setting at one of over 335 senior centers around the state. Each county in Alabama has a minimum of one senior center delivering a hot lunch meal program Monday through Friday. The healthy meals, social activities, and access to information from the community provide great benefits to seniors. Home-delivered Meals are provided to an eligible client at the client's place of residence. The home-delivered meals are either a hot meal delivered daily, or a frozen box of 5 meals delivered weekly by the contract food vendor.

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Nutrition Education

The nutrition education program promotes better health by providing accurate and culturally sensitive nutrition, physical fitness, or related health information and instruction. Education for participants and caregivers takes place in groups of individual settings. Written nutrition and health education is provided quarterly by a registered dietician for use in the local community senior centers. Many senior centers through their AAA's partner with other licensed health care workers to provide health related information on site.

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Contact your local Area Agency on Aging to find out which of these programs are available in your area.