MAYVILLE, NY – This March, Chautauqua County Office for Aging Services is highlighting its Dining In and Dining Out programs while joining the Administration for Community Living (ACL) and senior nutrition providers nationwide in celebrating the anniversary of the national Senior Nutrition Program.
Since 1972, the Senior Nutrition Program has supported nutrition services for older adults. Funded by the Older Americans Act, local senior nutrition programs serve as hubs for older adults (60 and older) who are at greatest economic need and greatest social need to access nutritious meals and other vital services that strengthen social connections and promote health and well-being.
Senior nutrition is now more important than ever. Each year in the U.S., up to half of adults over 65 are at risk of malnutrition, and more than 10 million face hunger. In communities throughout the U.S. – including our own – older adults sometimes lack access to the high-quality, nutritious food they need to remain healthy and independent.
Healthy food and good nutrition are essential for older adults to maintain health, independence and quality of life as they age. What we eat supports physical strength and brain health. Proper nutrition helps reduce the risk of chronic disease, supports immune function and maintains cognitive health.
As part of the Senior Nutrition Program network, Office for Aging Services Dining In and Dining Out programs are committed to making healthy eating accessible, enjoyable and affordable to older adults by promoting healthy eating, decreasing social isolation, and improving total wellness. The Dining In program alone served over 125,379 meals, helping ensure that over 600 older adults in our community received consistent, nourishing food in 2025. In addition, the Dining Out program offers both traditional congregate dining and innovative restaurant-style options, with two traditional sites and four restaurant-style locations available throughout the county. In 2025, the Dining Out program served approximately 1400 older adults a total of 32,900 meals.
Food nourishes more than the body; it also supports connection. Shared meals bring people together, boosting mood and reducing isolation and loneliness. The Dining In and Dining Out programs also provide connections to nutrition counseling, nutrition education series, farmers market programs, information and referrals to local food pantries and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), as well as other health promotion programs that help older adults in our community eat well, live well and age well.
For more than 50 years, senior nutrition services have helped create healthy, strong communities where all members can flourish regardless of age. That’s why we proudly recognize this anniversary of the national Senior Nutrition Program and its tremendous impact on the health and well-being of older adults in our community with the release of a short video sharing the story of impact of the Dining In and Dining Out Programs in our local community. Join us in celebrating our older adults, our program, and our community!
Learn more about our program and services and how you can support senior nutrition by visiting Chautauqua County Office for Aging Services at chautauquacountyny.gov/office-aging; or contact NY Connects at 716-753-4582 or email CCNYC@chqgov.com.
