Nutrition
SNAP EBT skimming alert!
Thank you to Massachusetts Law Reform Institute for this update:
About 120,000 SNAP households in Eastern MA were mailed DTA notices to re-PIN their EBT card to protect against stolen SNAP via skimming. If they don’t re-PIN by 8/23 to 8/25 (depending on where they live), after 8/23-8/25 they won’t be able to use SNAP until they re-PIN. For more details, see DTA’s overview here or our past eblast here with more information about what is happening, why it is happening, and the scope of families who are impacted. We also have a short tweet thread with an overview. We worked with DTA on a one-page Retailer Scam Flyer in English and Spanish – with the goal of having retailers post this flier in their store and in check out lines. We are very worried that folks will not know there is an issue and they need to rePIN until they are in the checkout line. Please share this resource ASAP with your local retailers in Eastern Massachusetts. When an EBT card without a PIN is used, an error message will appear for the cashier, flagging that the issue is a missing PIN. We aren’t 100% sure if this will happen with all point-of-service devices, but this may be a good way for cashiers to flag if a transaction with an EBT card was denied because the customer needs to re-PIN (vs. another issue with their benefits/the card).
Nutrition Community Checklist Self-Assessment
| Average SNAP Awards by City/Town (age 60, single, living alone) |
| NEW: Hunger cliff numbers by city/town (older adults who will lose supplemental benefits with the end of public health emergency declaration) as of May 2022 |
| NEW: May 2022* |
| January 2022* |
| July 2021* |
| January 2021* |
| July 2020* |
| February 2020 |
| Year-over-year data (Excel) |
| *figures do not reflect temporary supplemental COVID-19 benefits |
With COVID-19 supplemental SNAP payments sunsetting, maximize your benefits by including all medical deductions. Use this SNAP medical deductions checklist to guide you.
Malnutrition Awareness Week is October 4-8!
MCOA is an ambassador to this initiative. That means YOU are able to take advantage of the Malnutrition Awareness Week 2021 Buzzkit containing messaging, sample social media posts, and more – including the code to attend webinars for free.
Cooking as Self-Care – Considering all we went through in 2020, it is MCOA’s hope these sessions provide some relief from older adult malnutrition and social isolation. Your feedback is welcome along the way.
Encourage your local community access channel to schedule the Cooking as Self Care (CASC) segments. Each show runs under 30 minutes and can be found and downloaded from Massachusetts Media eXchange (MMX). MMX is a video sharing platform hosted by MassAccess for the use of community media stations across the Commonwealth. For more information, visit https://www.massaccess.org/mmx/
Assorted Resources:
ACL Senior Nutrition Program 5.5.21 – Please note these reopening documents contain information from the Federal level. State and local nutrition programs’ policies and funding will impact the actual services provided post-pandemic. Feel free to use the tools as they fit into your decision making. Considerations for Senior Nutrition Programs, Signage & Communication Resources, Resources List.
Nutrition and Brain Health Membership Meeting 2.10.21
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 (Chapter 6 Older Adults, p.121)
Stepping up Your Nutrition (SUYN) – This 30-minute online SUYN Leader training will provide you with the skills and resources to educate and motivate community-dwelling older adults to prevent or lower their malnutrition risk, identify malnutrition risk and refer at-risk older adults to community-based resources. After completing the online training, SUYN Leaders will be able to deliver the interactive workshop for older adults. Get trained now and run the program virtually during the pandemic or in person in the future! Contact tara@mcoaonline.com for coupon code to cover the cost of the training, program and marketing materials for 1-2 people per COA.
Statewide Nutrition Program 6.24.2020 – Slide Deck, Community Scan
MA Commission on Malnutrition Prevention Among Older Adults annual reports: 2020 Annual Report, 2019 Annual Report, 2018 Annual Report
Defeat Malnutrition Today (DMT):
