NYSOFA Produces Evaluation Report of Delivered Meal Program - October 2002

  
  Recently, working with the Center for Policy Research at the University at Albany, Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, the NYS Office for Aging produced an evaluation report of the Home Delivered Meals program. The report, entitled "Home Delivered Meal Services for Older New Yorkers: A Three County Longitudinal Surveillance Study, " is the first longitudinal assessment of home delivered meal services for seniors in New York State. While limited in scope to three participating counties and in design by non-random selection, the findings presented in this report are of major significance in their longitudinal assessment of home delivered meal services and in the diversity of the clients they describe. With ages ranging from 60 to 97, study clients experienced many different circumstances and health and nutritional conditions that made them eligible for home delivered meal services.

Findings show how the HDM services in the representative counties studied are achieving their objectives and goals in:

  • Targeting services to seniors most in need and at greatest risk - including elderly and minority and low-income elderly;
  • Serving seniors who require the assistance of HDM services in preparing or cooking meals, and/or shopping due to acute or chronic impairments;
  • Screening seniors for alternative assistance who need more intensive support and personal care;
  • Reducing food insecurity and rationing and economic worry about food purchases among otherwise eligible seniors; and,
  • Maintaining the weight, and preventing unhealthy, precipitous weight loss, among HDM recipients.

Also the finding show that the targeted population of those most in need and at greatest risk has changed markedly. HDM services intervene in support of early hospital discharge practices and serve seniors with higher prevalence of chronic illnesses and conditions.

Study findings track 141 home delivered meal recipients in 3 representative counties from their initial referrals and assessments for home delivered meals until their early terminations from the study or for a full 12-month follow-up period.

Following their initial assessments, the 141 participants received home delivered meals, and in some cases, related assistance including shopping, escort, transportation and referral to benefits such as Food Stamps.

To read the entire report, please click here.