Conceptualizing and assessing nutrition needs: perspectives of local program providers.

This study aimed to understand how local Older American Acts Nutrition Program (OAANP) providers perceive and assess client need for the OAANP. Qualitative in-depth interviews were done with a sample of 36 local OAANP providers in upstate New York. Providers' perceptions of needs for the OAANP were determined by comprehensive understanding of the extent to which an elderly person has problems eating properly to maintain good nutritional and health status. Need was determined by various aging and environmental factors including food insecurity of the elderly, rather than by a single characteristic of problems of elders. Efforts to better understand and meet the needs of elders will enable nutrition programs to respond to heterogeneous needs in ever increasing older population.