ACL - Administration for Community Living
03/13/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/13/2026 11:02
HHS Marks 54 Years of the Senior Nutrition Program Strengthening American Health and Independence
March 13, 2026
Federal nutrition program advances community-based prevention for older adults
WASHINGTON - March 13, 2026 - Today, during National Nutrition Month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) marks the 54th anniversary of the Senior Nutrition Program - a federal nutrition investment that delivers nutritious meals and community-based services supporting healthier aging and reducing avoidable health care costs.
Established in 1972 under the Older Americans Act, the Senior Nutrition Program operates through approximately 5,000 local providers serving nearly 1 million meals a day. Through congregate and home-delivered meals, the program addresses food insecurity and malnutrition risk while helping older adults maintain independence and better manage their health at home.
"Good nutrition is foundational to preventing chronic conditions and lowering health care costs for both individuals and systems," said Mary Lazare, Principal Deputy Administrator of HHS' Administration for Community Living (ACL). "As ACL and all of HHS works to reduce the burden of chronic disease nationwide, this program remains an effective model of prevention at the local level."
Administered by ACL, the Senior Nutrition Program works with state and community partners to implement and scale services and ensure responsible stewardship of federal resources. "For more than 50 years, the Senior Nutrition Program and the aging services network that delivers it have shown that access to nutritious meals improves health, stability, and overall well-being for older adults," said Kari Benson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aging at ACL.
As the Trump Administration works to improve federal nutrition guidance and promote whole, nutritious foods as a foundation of health, HHS remains committed to programs that deliver measurable health outcomes in communities nationwide.
For more information about the Senior Nutrition Program, visit acl.gov/snp.
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