Nutrition Service Requirements

PURPOSE: This rule establishes the requirements to be met by the area agency on aging to fund, establish, and operate nutrition services for older adults. (1) The area agency on aging may award nutrition services funds to a service provider to provide meals and other nutrition services, including outreach and nutrition education, to eligible service recipients within the planning and service area (PSA). (2) The area agency on aging shall assess the level of need for congregate and home-delivered meals within the PSA and maintain documentation of the method(s) used to assess level of need and how the results were used to determine levels of services to meet those needs. (3) The area agency on aging may make awards for congregate and home-delivered nutrition services to a service provider that furnishes either or both type(s) of service(s). The area agency on aging may award federal and state funds to a service provider that delivers only home-delivered nutrition services if congregate nutrition services are also provided through the area agency on aging. (4) The area agency on aging shall assure that the provisions of nutrition services are contracted for in accordance with the standards set forth in 19 CSR 15-4.200. (5) Eligibility of individuals to receive nutrition services shall be determined as follows: (A) Any person aged sixty (60) years or over and the spouse of that person regardless of age shall be eligible to receive congregate nutrition services; (B) Any person aged sixty (60) years or over who is homebound by reason of illness, incapacitating disability, or is otherwise isolated shall be determined eligible for homedelivered nutrition services. Occasional escorted trips from the home for medical or other necessary services will not affect the individual’s eligibility for home-delivered meals. The following conditions shall be met: 1. The area agency on aging shall require an assessment of the individual’s eligibility for home-delivered nutrition services prior to initiation of the service and assess the individual’s need for continued service at least annually after that. In emergency situations, home-delivered meals may be delivered for a maximum of five (5) days prior to the initial assessment of eligibility; and 2. The area agency on aging shall develop written criteria by which to determine if the spouse and/or primary caregiver who resides in the home, regardless of their age or condition of the spouse, may receive a homedelivered meal. The criteria developed shall assure that the receipt of the meal by the spouse and/or caregiver is in the best interest of the homebound older adult; (C) Adults with disabilities under sixty (60) years of age who reside in housing facilities occupied primarily by older adults at which congregate nutrition services are provided may receive congregate nutrition services. Any person meeting these requirements also may be eligible to receive home-delivered nutrition services provided the procedures of paragraph (5)(B)2. are followed; and (D) Under the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG), adults with disabilities under sixty (60) years of age who do not reside in housing facilities occupied primarily by older adults may be eligible to receive congregate nutrition services. Any person meeting these requirements also may be eligible to receive home-delivered nutrition services under SSBG provided procedures in paragraph (5)(B)2. are followed. (6) The area agency on aging may allow guests under sixty (60) years of age to eat a meal at a nutrition center provided that— (A) An eligible service recipient is not deprived of a meal; and (B) The full cost of the meal is paid. (7) The area agency on aging may allow nutrition center volunteers under sixty (60) years of age to eat a meal at the nutrition center. If volunteer meals are allowed, the criteria shall allow these meals only if— (A) An eligible service recipient is not deprived of a meal; (B) The volunteer has expended substantial direct effort in the preparation, service, delivery, cleanup of the meal, or a combination of these; and (C) The volunteer is afforded the opportunity to contribute to the cost of the meal. (8) The area agency on aging shall request prior approval from the division for any new nutrition centers, construction of nutrition centers, renovation of nutrition centers, or relocation of existing nutrition centers. (9) The area agency on aging shall request prior approval, in writing, from the division for any proposed termination of a nutrition center and shall not terminate any nutrition center until written approval has been received from the division. (10) The area agency on aging shall report the occurrence or suspicion of a food-borne illness to the appropriate health authorities and the division. The area agency on aging shall cooperate with health authorities and keep the division informed of the investigation status as well as provide notice of resolution. (11) The area agency on aging shall hire or retain the services of a qualified dietitian/nutritionist who does monitoring and provides technical assistance to service providers in the areas of food and nutrition. The dietitian/nutritionist shall meet one (1) of the following qualifications: (A) Dietitian—A person who holds a bachelor of science degree from an accredited college or university with a major in dietetics, food and nutrition, or institutional food management and is eligible to take the registration examination offered by the American Dietetic Association; (B) Registered Dietitian (RD)—A dietitian who has successfully completed the required examination for registration with the American Dietetic Association and maintains the status by meeting continuing education requirements; (C) Nutritionist—A person who holds a bachelor of science degree with a major in human nutrition or a major in dietetics from an accredited college or university; (D) Food and Nutrition Specialist—A person who holds a bachelor of science degree with a major in food and nutrition or institutional food management; or (E) Public Health Nutritionist—A person who holds a master of public health nutrition or master of science with a major in public health nutrition. (12) The area agency on aging shall provide for technical assistance/training to nutrition service provider’s staff and volunteers that shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, meal cost and portion control, commodity/cash use, nutrition education, nutrition policies and standards, modified diets, food buying and preparation, food inventory, menu planning, kitchen design, purchase of equipment, fire and safety procedures, sanitation, first-aid, and emergency life-saving techniques. (A) Technical assistance and training for nutrition education, modified diets and menu planning shall be provided by a dietitian/nutritionist. (B) In all other areas, technical assistance and training may be provided by other area agency on aging staff who have been trained in the subject matter. AUTHORITY: section 192.2000, RSMo 2016.* This rule was previously filed as 13 CSR 156.145 and 13 CSR 15-4.240. Original rule filed Jan. 6, 1986, effective April 30, 1986. Amended: Filed Feb. 17, 1988, effective June 15, 1988. Amended: Filed June 3, 1991, effective Oct. 31, 1991. Amended: Filed May 12, 2000, effective Nov. 30, 2000. Moved to 19 CSR 15-4.240, effective Aug. 28, 2001. ** Amended: Filed Jan. 25, 2022, effective Aug. 30, 2022. *Original authority: 192.2000, RSMo 1984, amended 1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2001, 2014. **Pursuant to Executive Order 21-09, 19 CSR 15-4.240 was suspended from April 3, 2020 through December 31, 2021.