Fresh Conversations, a SNAP-Ed Program for Older Adults: Feedback From Program Facilitators.

OBJECTIVE: As part of a statewide Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education program evaluation, Fresh Conversations (FC) facilitators (ie, educators) provided input into a new delivery model. METHODS: The researchers interviewed 25 FC facilitators. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed for common themes. RESULTS: Most facilitators were women with at least 1 year of FC experience. Key motivators for serving as an FC facilitator included alignment with current employment responsibilities and gerontology interest. Training was viewed as helpful, thorough, and self-explanatory. Implementation challenges included recruitment, public speaking, and time management. Nearly all stated that FC content was important and that other seniors at other congregate meal sites would be interested in FC. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Findings suggest that facilitators were pleased with FC; however, their experiences might be further improved through enhanced training. Further exploration into community food and nutrition program educators' feedback is needed to ensure these programs meet their needs as well as those of the audience.

Nutritional Risk among Congregate Meal Site Participants: Benefits of a SNAP-Ed Program.

This study examined the impact of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) program Fresh Conversations (FC) on the nutritional risk (NR) of older adults (OAs). A convenience sample of OAs (207 Treatment, 148 Control) completed questionnaires comprised of validated measures to assess NR, barriers to healthy eating self-efficacy (SE), food safety behaviors (FSB), and food security (FS) at three-time points over 9 months. Participants were mostly white (92.4%), older (age 81+ years, 40.1%), widowed (52.4%), and females (75.2%). Independent t-tests identified baseline differences among groups. Analysis of covariance assessed group changes at each time point for each measure. Block regression determined which variables influence baseline NR. Baseline NR risk was significantly predicted by SE (ß = 0.21), education (ß = 0.19) and age (ß = 0.14) (p < 0.05). NR improvement was significantly higher for treatment group participants who attended four or more FC sessions than for the control group (p = .04) when controlling for the effects of gender (p = .061) and SE (p = .098).