Maryland Department of Aging

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Long Term Care Ombudsman/Elder Abuse Prevention information

Nutrition and Meal Services

The Mission of Senior Nutrition Services is to improve the quality of life for older individuals through wholesome meals, nutrition education, counseling and assessment, improved socialization and referral to other appropriate services. Maryland residents, age 60 and older, and their spouses of any age, are welcome to visit a meal site for a hot nutritious meal and fun with new friends. Most nutrition sites have a variety of interesting and healthful activities. Younger persons with disabilities may also be eligible to participate.

Participants in both programs are encouraged to make a donation towards the cost of a meal. Donations are voluntary and anonymous and help the program to provide more meals

Meals that Provide Socializing and Health Activities

Congregate meals are offered in more than 250 meal sites including senior centers, religious facilities, housing facilities or other community sites throughout Maryland. Many meals program locations are within state-of-the-art facilities and offer a variety of engaging activities such as Health Promotion and Exercise Centers.

Meal sites offer an opportunity to meet new friends and engage in other social or health related programs including nutrition education, physical activity and health screening. During 2009 about seniors received nearly 1.5 million meals in congregate settings throughout Maryland. Most Senior Congregate Nutrition Sites offer a hot lunch; however, some congregate settings offer deli lunches, salad bars, soup and sandwiches or evening meals. Breakfast programs are offered in several locations. A variety of culturally-appropriate meals are offered in select locations including: Kosher, Vietnamese, Chinese and Korean.

Looking for short term or long term assistance with meals at home?

Home delivered meals recipients must be homebound and unable to shop for food or prepare meals. Home delivered meals (also referred to as Meals on Wheels) are brought to homebound seniors to help them to remain in their homes for as long as possible. In addition to nutrition services, daily contact with program volunteers or staff provides seniors a link to additional services in their communities. In 2009, 1.2 million home delivered meals were served to seniors.

Whether served in a congregate or home setting, each meal meets at least one-third of Recommended Dietary Allowances for older adults and follows the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. In addition to meals, nutrition education and nutrition screening are provided to all participants. In some locations, nutrition counseling is available and provided by registered dietitians.

The Federal Recovery Act of 2009 provided $100 million in Maryland that:

Increased meals served
Increased the number of seniors receiving Nutrition Services,
Eliminated or reduced waiting lists
Created and saved jobs.

For more information see the Maryland Recovery web site.

Visit these other web sites to find additional nutrition information useful for seniors and others:

Provider Information

Senior Public Guardianship

Public Guardianship Information

Senior CARE

The Senior Care System provides case management and funds for services for people 65 or older who may be at risk of nursing home placement. Senior Care allows seniors to live with dignity and in the comfort of their own homes and at a lower cost than nursing facility care. Senior Care provides a comprehensive assessment of an individual's needs, a case manager to secure and coordinate services, and a pool of gapfilling funds to purchase services for individuals who meet program eligibility requirements. Services may include personal care, chore service, medications, medical supplies, adult day care, respite care, home delivered meals, transportation, and emergency response systems.

Coordination of Services
The Senior Care system of coordinated services is provided through the local aging, health and social services agencies. These services consist of screening, assessment, case management, and Gapfilling services. Screening and assessment are performed in-kind by any of the local agencies. Case management is provided both in-kind and paid for with Senior Care funds.
Screening
When older persons are referred for help, they are screened to determine if they may be eligible for Senior Care and other services. Screens are performed in-kind by all participating agencies and include information about an individual’s age, income, assets and functional abilities. If the individual appears eligible for Senior Care, a referral is made for a full evaluation of need.
Assessment
Assessments are interviews conducted face-to-face with an older person and his or her family members or significant others. The assessment is used to determine if the client meets the established eligibility criteria and to develop a plan of care. Initial assessments are performed in-kind, usually by the local health department’s Adult Evaluation and Review Service (AERS). The Statewide Evaluation and Planning Services (STEPS) instrument is the most widely used evaluation tool. Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Montgomery County use other assessment instruments that they developed at the local level.
Upon completion of the assessment, a plan of care is developed that outlines services that the client is currently receiving and those that are still needed. This plan of care and the assessment information is forwarded to a case manager, who meets with the client to determine the services that the client will receive. This service plan is based on the client’s wishes as well as the availability of services and funds. The case manager completes reassessments for eligibility and need every six months.
Case Management
Each Senior Care client is assigned a case manager. Case management can be provided by any of the participating agencies. Case management may be paid for with Senior Care funds, and/or provided in-kind by any of the three agencies. The case manager is responsible for implementing the care plan. This entails seeking out and ordering services, assisting the client or the client’s family to apply for other services, client advocacy, and overseeing services that are provided.
For further information and to access to Senior Care Services, please contact your local Senior Information and Assistance Office.

Senior Centers

The hub of most nutrition and health promotion activities, Senior Centers provide a vital link for older individuals, encouraging them to take charge of their health and stay involved in their community.

Get Connected with a Healthy Lifestyle at a Senior Center

Are you looking for health or fitness classes at an affordable price and convenient location? Maryland’s 113 senior centers offer excellent opportunities for exercise programs, health screenings and wellness seminars. Every month, there are a variety of activities to meet your needs and interests, physical ability and level of fitness.

Fitness programs are geared for the beginners and experienced students. Senior centers offer “sit and stretch” and chair aerobics for those who are most comfortable with seated exercise programs. Other programs include strength training, yoga and Tai Chi to help build muscles and increase strength, balance and flexibility. Dance and movement classes include line dancing to ballroom dance, tap dancing, clogging, square dance and aerobics.

Free and low-cost health screenings are offered at many senior centers and nutrition sites. These may include blood pressure, cholesterol, thyroid, depression, glucose (for diabetes), nutrition, hearing, vision, stroke, osteoporosis, foot and several types of cancer. Additionally, Pharmacists frequently provide consultations to discuss medications, nurses provide individual guidance and discuss specific health concerns and nutritionists will assist with a personal nutrition plan. Flu or pneumonia shots are often given during the fall months to keep seniors well and disease prevention and health education seminars are offered throughout the year.

Stop by your local senior center or call the Senior Information and Assistance Program in your area.

To receive a free copy of “Join the Active People” fitness guide, and “Eat Well, Live Well: A Senior’s Guide to Healthy Eating”, please use our mail response form.

Senior Center PLUS

Senior Center Plus is a program of structured group activities and enhanced socialization, which is designed to have a positive impact on physically frail, or cognitively impaired individuals. The services available at a Senior Center Plus site are recreational activities, and socialization, in accordance with the care plan developed for each participant.

Appropriate meals and snacks are served to participants in a dining area accessible to persons with disabilities. The level of personal support is less intensive than medical adult day care, yet the eight participant to one staff ratio is greater than the staffing ratio of community senior centers.

The daily fee schedule is determined by the Senior Center Plus provider based on the facility’s operating budget. A sliding fee scale is used and a limited number of scholarships are available. Respite fees are paid by family, participants, caregivers, Veterans’ Group Home operators, and assisted living providers. This service is eligible for Medicaid reimbursement via the Maryland Medicaid Waiver.

There are currently 36 Senior Center PLUS sites in Maryland. For more information, contact your local Senior Information and Assistance Office.

Senior Information and Assistance information

Senior Legal Assistance information