Volume 2, Issue 2

The Final Forkful

This late-month newsletter covers exciting nutrition network news that happened this month.

From the Nutrition and Aging

Resource Center

New Resources Available on the Website!

See what is new! New and updated resources included on acl.gov/senior-nutrition:

Meet the Nutrition and Aging Resource Center Team

Meet Nutrition and Aging Resource Center team member Dr. Sarah Francis in this short video. Sarah works with the Iowa State University team. Follow the Nutrition and Aging Resource Center on social media as Sarah will be answering additional questions sent in by YOU on our Instagram stories!

Nutrition and Aging News From the Network

Older Americans Month ~ 2023 ~ Aging Unbound

Every May, ACL leads the nation’s observance of Older Americans Month (OAM). In 2023, ACL has chosen the theme, Aging Unbound. With this theme, we will have the opportunity to explore an array of aging experiences without being boxed in by expectations and stereotypes.

We will be discussing the positive aspects of growing older, why everyone has a role to play in combating ageism, and how we all benefit when older adults remain engaged, independent, and included in their communities.

The 2023 logos are available now. Watch for a poster, social media graphics, and more that you may use to celebrate OAM in your community. Remember to follow #OlderAmericansMonth for the latest from ACL and to see what others are planning!

FDA Food Code Reduces Barriers to Food Donations

Did you know that the 2022 Food Code makes it easier to utilize food donations? As long a food safety has been properly practiced, food donations from retail establishemnts are acceptable. Learn more and see if your meal program could take advantage of this opportunity.

Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day Symposium

Mark your calendars to join virtually on May 11 for the sixth Annual Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day Symposium! This free, all-day virtual event will feature an engaging plenary, informative sessions, and a diverse array of topics addressing the most pressing mental health needs in older adults.

Who should attend? Public health practitioners, professionals in the aging network, mental health providers, health care professionals, and anyone interested in ensuring the mental health of older adults. In partnership with the E4 Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Disparities in Aging, NCOA will be offering continuing education for several disciplines.

The symposium is brought to you by the National Council on Aging, the Administration for Community Living, the Health Resources and Services Administration, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Watch your inbox for free registration in mid-March!

NYC to Introduce Pilot Program on Ageism for High School Students

A pilot program in New York City is fighting ageism in a new way. The program's anti-ageism curriculum targets high school students. Learn more.

Last year, the Nutrition and Aging Resource Center hosted a webinar, Gray Hairs and Rocking Chairs: Exploring Our Own Age-Related Biases, featuring Dr. Erin Yelland, an associate professor of gerontology and the Director of the Center on Aging at Kansas State University.

During the webinar, attendees worked to understand unconscious biases and how those biases influence thoughts and behaviors toward others, specifically within the context of older adults and ageism. Watch the recording!

Senior Nutrition Programs in the News

The Administration for Community Living has created a page on the Nutrition and Aging Resource Center page that collects and highlights news stories related to senior nutrition programs across the nation.

Have a story to be shared? Email aclnutrition@betah.com

This project was supported in part by grant number 90PPNU0002 from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.