We are pleased that the Legislature passed and Governor Walz signed into law a one-time appropriation of $11 million for senior meals.
The omnibus transportation bill, which includes a delivery fee, was also passed and signed. One percent of the revenue collected in the fee will support the delivery of meals to underserved populations.
Thank you to the Senior Meals & Services Coalition for your hard work in getting this legislation passed and signed.
Thank you to chief authors Senator Erin Maye Quade (DFL-Apple Valley) and Representative Peter Fischer (DFL-Maplewood) for piloting the funding appropriation. Thank you to Representative Erin Koegel (DFL-Spring Lake Park) for her leadership in the delivery tax legislation.
Take a few minutes to contact your legislators and thank them for their support.
Meals for older adults are seriously underfunded in Minnesota, putting the health of older Minnesotans at risk. This funding will start to address the issue, and we are grateful for the support.
Reduce hunger for seniors!
Our message to legislators: We implore you to add $20 million ($10 million per year) to the Minnesota Board on Aging appropriation, amending Minnesota Statutes, section 256.9752, to meet minimum nutritional needs for older adults. Download our Call to Action.
Food insecurity disproportionately affects older Minnesotans from lower-income and rural communities who often live in food deserts, have limited English proficiency or lack access to transportation. Inadequate nutrition impacts health, erodes quality of life, and increases healthcare costs.
Background
Programs that provide meals to older adults are severely underfunded and ARE NOT meeting the needs of the oldest among us. Funding for the Minnesota Senior Nutrition Program has not increased in the past 20 years, while the need and costs for meals have grown exponentially.
According to Defeat Malnutrition Today, as many as one in two older Americans is at risk for malnutrition. Lack of nutrition puts people at higher risk for illness, longer lengths of hospital stays and a higher level of readmissions. Malnutrition is complex and driven by multiple factors, but the lack of access to nutritious meals is a key component.
With severe workforce shortages in care settings, nutrition programs help make it possible for older adults to stay safely in their homes. Meals programs also reduce social isolation for older adults. Congregate meals create opportunities for gathering with others. Home-delivered meals provide older adults with a regular, in-person connection with a friendly face.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Minnesota has seen a dramatic increase in meal demand and federal dollars to help meet the demand. As the federal relief ends, the need for nutritious meals remains and will grow as the population ages.
Current Funding
Senior nutrition programs are funded in two ways:
- The State Senior Nutrition Program provides $2.695 million in funding annually, which has not increased for more than 20 years.
- The federal “Older Americans Act” provides approximately $12 to $12.5 million per year in senior nutrition funding.
An influx of federal COVID-19 funds temporarily increased available resources for meals. Even with this increase, some older adults went without meals. It is critical to replace one-time funds to meet a basic need for food among our older adult population.
State and federal funds are allocated to the Minnesota Board on Aging and then distributed to Minnesota’s six area agencies on aging based on a federally approved intrastate funding formula. The AAAs allocate funding to community-based organizations that provide meals to older adults and their caregivers.
State and federal funds are allocated to the Minnesota Board on Aging and then distributed to Minnesota’s six area agencies on aging based on an intrastate funding formula. The AAAs allocate the funding to community-based organizations that provide meals to older adults.
Increasing Costs
The cost of meals has increased 26% from 2020 to 2022, and we expect it will continue to increase. Meal providers are responding by serving fewer people or fewer meals per person with devastating impact on older adults.
Call to Action
We need your help! Will you join us in the fight to save senior meals? Pass legislation to meet this urgent and growing need.