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A Technological Intervention to Improve Nutrition among Older Adult Congregate Meal Participants during COVID-19

Award Number: R01NR020303
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NURSING RESEARCH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/22/2021
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2025

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A Technological Intervention to Improve Nutrition among Older Adult Congregate Meal Participants during COVID-19 - Project Summary/Abstract (29 out of 30 lines allowed) Inadequate nutrition and a lack of physical activity contributes to functional decline and complications from chronic diseases in older adults. The pandemic has halted or altered necessary Older Americans Act (OAA) nutrition services provided to vulnerable community-dwelling older adults in San Antonio, Texas. The “digital divide” or gap in technological access and knowledge, further heightens the detrimental effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on older adults who may be “digitally excluded” from social, economic, and health-related interactions. During the pandemic, seven San Antonio congregate meal sites located in areas with high poverty and digital exclusion remain partially open biweekly to distribute meals but no longer offer in-person nutrition education, physical activity classes, and social activities. The proposed project extends existing congregate meal programming infrastructure and partnerships with Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) to provide a sustainable approach focused on older adult health. This proposed digital nutrition intervention study will target technologically limited older adults enrolled in the congregate meal program (CMP) using a stepped-wedge cluster clinical trial to allow for sequential intervention enrollment with simultaneous control and intervention data collection timepoints. Key community partners with the Department of Health Services Senior Services Division and OATS will participate in the planning phase, research design, and implementation of the study. The 20-week intervention will include 5 weeks of technology training, including internet access and devices, followed by 15 weeks of a culturally tailored nutrition intervention via online sessions. The study will enroll 480 older adults recruited from seven at- risk congregate meal sites. Data will be collected at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. The study aims are: 1) To test the impact of a technology-based intervention on the primary outcomes of food security and diet quality; 2) To determine the effect of the intervention on secondary outcomes of technology knowledge and usage, physical activity, and social isolation and loneliness; 3) To examine the long-term impact and sustainability of technology use on food security, diet quality, physical activity, and social isolation. If successful, the impact of this program could be applied throughout the national OATS network and to similar CMPs to bridge the digital divide beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = -$102,751 )
2026	2023	THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO	1 UTSA CIR	SAN ANTONIO	TX	78249	BEXAR	USA	Nursing Research	000	3	1/9/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$102,751
														Subtotal = -$102,751

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $302,138 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO, THE	1 UTSA CIRCLE	SAN ANTONIO	TX	78249	BEXAR	USA	Nursing Research	000	3	8/4/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$302,138
														Subtotal = $302,138

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $442,256 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO, THE	1 UTSA CIRCLE	SAN ANTONIO	TX	78249	BEXAR	USA	Nursing Research	001	2	6/21/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$442,256
2022	2021	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO, THE	1 UTSA CIRCLE	SAN ANTONIO	TX	78249	BEXAR	USA	Nursing Research	000	1	10/18/2021	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $442,256

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $439,639 )
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO, THE	1 UTSA CIRCLE	SAN ANTONIO	TX	78249	BEXAR	USA	Nursing Research	001	1	9/23/2021	NEW	$0
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO, THE	1 UTSA CIRCLE	SAN ANTONIO	TX	78249	BEXAR	USA	Nursing Research	000	1	9/22/2021	NEW	$439,639
														Subtotal = $439,639

Grand Total All Awards = $1,081,282

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A Technological Intervention to Improve Nutrition among Older Adult Congregate Meal Participants during COVID-19

Award Number: R01NR020303

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NURSING RESEARCH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/22/2021

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2025

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