An analysis of nutrition education received by senior citizens in the state of Virginia: Title III congregate meals

Abstract

The nutrition education component of the Virginia Agency on Aging congregate meal program of both rural and urban sites was studied. The focus of the study was the frequency of formal nutrition education, the source of the nutrition information received, the type of educational techniques that appeared to be most successful, the nutrition education background of the person offering the educational lesson, and whether or not there was positive response in dietary changes as a result of the nutrition education.

A questionnaire distributed by mail was completed by 121 congregate meal sites throughout the Commonwealth. Analysis of all components revealed no significant difference between the nutrition education received in rural and urban sites in Virginia.

Most meal sites received nutrition education at least once a month. The attendance rate by the seniors was the same as the attendance rate of other educational programs as reported in 80 percent of the meal sites. Most sites used materials the employee classified as professional sources. The study indicated that 77 percent of the site employees perceived an improvement in the dietary habits of the elderly as the result of the nutrition education provided by the congregate meal program.