Table 2.
Participants’ Functional Status and Perceptions of the Nationwide Congregate Meals Program
| Frequency | %* | |
|---|---|---|
| Limitations in ADLs† | ||
| 0 | 499 | 58.2 |
| 1 | 230 | 25.7 |
| 2 or more | 165 | 16.2 |
| Overall rating of congregate meals | ||
| Good to excellent | 815 | 91.7 |
| Fair or poor | 85 | 8.3 |
| Taste Satisfaction Rating | ||
| Always | 257 | 26.7 |
| Usually | 453 | 55.4 |
| Sometimes | 164 | 15.9 |
| Seldom | 18 | 1.4 |
| Never | 4 | 0.2 |
| Don’t know/refused | 5 | 0.5 |
| Variety Satisfaction Rating | ||
| Always | 333 | 38.2 |
| Usually | 363 | 39.9 |
| Sometimes | 183 | 18.6 |
| Seldom | 13 | 1.2 |
| Never | 6 | 0.5 |
| Don’t know/refused | 3 | 1.8 |
| Would recommend to a friend | ||
| Yes | 859 | 96.0 |
| No | 35 | 3.6 |
| Don’t know/refused | 7 | 0.4 |
| Meals improve health | ||
| Yes | 678 | 74.4 |
| No | 165 | 18.9 |
| Don’t know/refused | 58 | 6.7 |
| Meals improve diet | ||
| Yes | 706 | 77.5 |
| No | 180 | 21.3 |
| Don’t know/refused | 15 | 1.1 |
| Meals help to remain living in home | ||
| Yes | 580 | 58.1 |
| No | 295 | 37.4 |
| Don’t know/refused | 26 | 4.5 |
| Meals help to feel better | ||
| Yes | 741 | 81.5 |
| No | 122 | 15.0 |
| Don’t know/refused | 38 | 3.5 |
| Last time received meal | ||
| Within the last day | 301 | 31.6 |
| Within the last week | 300 | 31.6 |
| Within the last month | 122 | 13.3 |
| More than a month ago | 178 | 23.5 |
| Duration of Participation | ||
| <=6 months | 113 | 15.2 |
| > 6 months to< 1 year | 91 | 8.4 |
| 1 to <2 years | 126 | 12.5 |
| 2 to 5 years | 292 | 35.2 |
| >5 years | 274 | 28.3 |
| Don’t know/refused | 5 | 0.3 |
| Days per week | ||
| <=1 | 270 | 35.7 |
| 2-4 | 438 | 46.3 |
| 5+ | 150 | 12.5 |
| Don’t know/refused | 43 | 5.5 |
| Proportion of foods meal represents | ||
| <1/2 | 417 | 46.9 |
| 1/2 | 261 | 33.5 |
| >1/2 | 201 | 17.3 |
| Don’t know/refused | 22 | 2.2 |
*
Weighted to account for the sampling design within the nationwide sample.
†
ADL, Activity of Daily Living; Limitations defined as needing help from another person in bathing, dressing, eating, transferring from bed to chair, or toileting