Nutrition and Food Assistance
Eating the right foods is important throughout life. Good nutrition can help you reduce the risk of chronic disease or help manage it. Eating healthy foods and exercising leads to a higher quality of life as you grow older.
Preparing healthy and nutritious meals can be hard. There are resources listed below that may be helpful. If you are not able to fix your own meals, you may be eligible for the following programs.
Nutrition Sites
What are Nutrition Sites?
Nutrition sites are for people over 60. Meals are served in neighborhood gathering places such as churches, senior centers, and other community centers. They are sponsored by your local Area Agency on Aging. The sites are sometimes called Diner’s Clubs or Friendship Cafés. Senior Activity Centers or Wellness is Now Centers can also be sites. Nutrition sites help you stay connected to your community and meet your nutritional needs.
What programs and services are available at the Nutrition Sites?
Meals: A balanced meal with 1/3 of your daily nutrients.
Activities: You will enjoy things like:
- exercise,
- lectures,
- health and nutrition education,
- health screenings, and
- recreation,
- social fun, and
- Assessment: You may qualify for other services in your community.
What does a Nutrition Site cost?
Tax dollars help fund part of this service. There is no charge for meals. If you can, think about making a donation.
How do I qualify for Nutrition Site participation?
You can use this service if you are:
- 60 or older, and
- physically and mentally independent.
Call your local Area Agency on Aging to learn more.
Where do I apply for a Nutrition Site?
Find your local Area Agency on Aging on the VirginiaNavigator website. Select “Area Agency on Aging” and put in your ZIP code for the program nearest you.
Visit the VirginiaNavigator website and select “Congregate Meals” and put in your ZIP code for the nutrition site nearest you.
Home Delivered Meals
What are Home Delivered Meals?
Often referred to as “Meals on Wheels,” the home delivered meals program brings you a meal, if you cannot leave your home. Friendly, caring volunteers or staff also check on you when they stop by with your meal.
What programs and services are available related to Home Delivered Meals?
- Meals: A balanced meal with 1/3 of your daily nutrients.
- Social contact: A brief, social contact
- Home visits: A program assessment and help with finding services, if needed
What costs are associated with Home Delivered Meals?
Tax dollars help fund part of this service at the local area agencies on aging. There is no charge for meals. If you can, think about making a donation.
Some non-profit Meals on Wheels programs offer meals based on your ability to pay.
How do I qualify for Home Delivered Meals?
You may qualify if you are:
- 60 or older,
- can’t leave your home for regular social activities, and
- have no one to help you fix healthy meals,
Call your local Area Agency on Aging to learn more. Some private, non-profit Meals on Wheels may serve you if you are under 60, cannot leave your home, and have a disability.
Where do I apply?
Find your local Area Agency on Aging on the VirginiaNavigator website. Select “Area Agency on Aging” and put in your ZIP code for the program nearest you.
Find home delivered meal programs in your area. Visit VirginiaNavigator and select “Home Delivered Meals” and put in your local ZIP code.
Other Resources for Healthy Eating
- Nutrition.gov Life Stages from Kids to Seniors
- Healthier US.gov
- Fruits and Veggies Matter, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Local Food Banks
- Nutrient Rich Foods Coalition
- Medline Plus Nutrition for Seniors
