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Human Ecology
Hudson County
Nutrition and Wellness Project
Department of Health and Human Services
Hudson County Office on Aging
595 County Avenue, Building 2
Secaucus, New Jersey 07094
(201) 271-4322
In January 2001, Montclair State University began an alliance with the Hudson County Office on Aging to provide nutrition support programs such as education, counseling and food safety to senior citizens who live in Hudson County. The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Affairs and the Hudson County Area Agency on Aging sponsor the program.
Hudson County residents over age 60 are eligible for the feeding programs. Ambulatory senior citizens can gather at the 25 congregate feeding sites throughout the County. Meals are served Monday through Friday at lunchtime and provide a balanced and nutritious meal and offer companionship to about 400 seniors, many of whom live and eat alone most of the time. A Montclair State University nutritionist visits each of these sites four times a year. A food safety evaluation is conducted during the visit, and a nutrition talk is given. This year the talks will cover the Food Guide Pyramid, Understanding Nutrition Facts (food label nutrition information) Panels, 5 A Day, and Weight Control and Heart Health. Food safety issues will be discussed with site managers, and two in-service educations will be conducted for all site managers to attend.
Homebound senior citizens are eligible for home-delivered meals, which are plated and distributed from the congregate sites. Close to 2,000 men and women receive these welcome meals daily and on weekends. Montclair State University nutrition education materials are sent home with the meals. Nutrition counseling is offered to the homebound and congregate feeding site clients. Home delivered meal routes are monitored, and self-prep kitchens are evaluated.
Montclair State University graduate students analyze the menus to ensure that the meals meet 1/3 of the Recommended dietary allowances.
All the clients complete a nutrition survey to evaluate those at nutritional risk. These clients are called to discuss ways they can improve their nutrition as a result of the survey findings. It is hoped that research findings that come from analysis of the surveys will result in more effective ways of delivering nutrition education to the senior citizens of the Hudson County.
For more information please call Shahla M. Wunderlich, PhD, RD, Director
or Charlotte Perry, MA, Administrator at (973) 655-4221.
Bergen County
Nutrition Education Project
Bergen County Division of Senior Citizens
The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Affairs, Bergen County
Division of Senior Services awarded Montclair State University a
contract to provide nutrition education to the seniors in Bergen
County in 2003. Montclair State University, therefore, began an
alliance with the Bergen County Division of Senior Services, which
extended to 2004.
Bergen County residents over age 60 are eligible for the government
sponsored meal programs. Ambulatory seniors can gather at the 27
congregate feeding sites throughout the County for a hot meal and
nutrition education. Approximately 1200 seniors are served a balanced
and nutritious meal Monday through Friday at lunchtime. These meals
offer companionship to the seniors, many of whom live and eat alone
most of the time. A Montclair State nutritionist visits each of
these sites four times a year. A food safety evaluation is conducted
during the visit, and an interactive nutrition presentation is given.
The presentations cover timely issues such as the Enrichment and
Fortification of Foods, Lycopene, Lutein, Omega Fatty Acids, Separating
Fact from Fiction, and Alternative Medicine. There will also be
Cooking Demonstrations.
Montclair State University nutritionists will participate in a Health
Fair in Mahwah, New Jersey. Seniors attending the fair will have
the opportunity to have their Body Mass Index and Waist Circumference
calculated. The Body Mass Index is a good analytical tool for estimating
if a person’s weight is in a healthy range for their height.
Waist Circumference is a good tool to determine risk for heart disease.
All the clients complete a nutrition survey to evaluate who is at
nutritional risk. The results of these surveys are communicated
to the County for further action. It is hoped the analysis of the
surveys will result in more effective ways of delivering nutrition
education to the seniors.
Shahla Wunderlich, PhD, RD, is directing this program. For more
information call Charlotte McKinnon, MA, Administrator at (973)
655-4221.
Life Skills Center
The Life Skills Center (LSC), which is part of the Department of Human Ecology,
is directed by Dr. Joan Bernstein. Established in 1969, the LSC was first known as
the Nutrition Education Service Center. In 1975, its mission was expanded to include
training and research in family life, parenting education, consumer safety, daily
living skills for the physically challenged and gender equity. Today, the Center is
renowned for its leadership, creativity and training programs in such areas as Gender
Equity, Early Childhood Education and Infant/toddler programs, and Family Development
skills as well as Nutrition and Food Science.
The Life Skills Center of the College of Education and Human Services Human Ecology
is a valuable resource for the campus, the larger community and organizations nationwide
through the provision of training programs and publications to improve the professional
and personal capabilities of individuals and organizations in meeting real life problems.
In this capacity, the LSC provides consultation, in-services training workshops and seminars
for business, government, community and educational groups.
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