Provision of Title III Services Policy #7: Closing/Relocating or Establishing a New Senior Nutrition Site

This content is part of a public comment period. For more information, refer to Minnesota Board on Aging – State Plan on Aging.

Note: We updated content on this page on April 17, 2025. Changed content is indicated with [add] and [delete].

Authority Reference	Minnesota Statutes 256.975, Subd 2.7
Operating Category	Provision of Title III Services

Policy

1. A senior nutrition site is defined as either a congregate dining site or a central kitchen that prepares meals for home delivery.

2. Senior dining site locations shall fulfill the requirement of federal regulations to locate congregate nutrition services close to the majority of eligible older people and to have the location acceptable to the participants who will use them.

3. A service provider may not relocate or close an existing senior dining site without obtaining the written approval of the AAA prior to relocating or closing the senior dining site.

A. Determination shall be based on having exhausted all options for keeping the site open, or relocated, to serve the same prioritized population if demographic data and utilization of services supports continued need for a senior nutrition site in that community.

B. The AAA shall determine if permanent closing of a meal site is justified and properly documented.

C. If the site closing is approved, the nutrition contractor shall assure that the participants receive at least a one-month notice and efforts are made to transfer the participants to another site. [add] When highly unusual extenuating circumstances make it impractical to provide participants a full 30-day notice of site closure, the AAA shall consult with the MBA on the situation and best practical measures to assist participants. [end add]

D. Upon approval for relocation, meals, nutrition education, and outreach will be furnished, as appropriate, to any relocated site in accordance with the terms of the contract.

E. The AAA and nutrition contractor will equitably adjust the nutrition contractor’s fee for furnishing the service based on the actual cost of the new site furnishing the service.

4. If the local public health department has determined that a senior dining site shall be closed due to health code violations, the nutrition contractor shall:

A. Work with the health department to rectify any violations leading to the closing.

B. Submit to AAA a written corrective plan of action within seven days from the time of notification of closing. The plan shall outline the steps to be taken within 30 days, or the time frame established by the health department, to correct the violation and receive another inspection report from the health department.

C. The AAA may withhold funds from the nutrition contractor for the portion of the program associated with the closing.

5. A service provider must consult with and obtain approval from the AAA prior to opening a new senior dining site.

A. Approval for the opening of a new site will be based on, but not limited to, the following:

· i. Number of older adults in greatest social need and/or greatest economic need in the area;

· ii. Evidence of community support, including space, staff, etc.

· iii. Availability of volunteers;

· iv. Lack of nutrition services in the area;

· v. Availability of other services from a community focal point; and

· vi. Funding beyond Older Americans Act Title III C funding for a specific site or for nutrition services across the PSA.

Procedures

1. A service provider requesting to relocate or close an existing senior dining site must begin consulting with the AAA about this request a minimum of 90 days prior to relocation or closure.

2. A service provider must document why it is requesting to close or relocate an existing senior dining site; how the closure or relocation will impact clients currently served by that senior dining site; and how the service provider will mitigate negative impacts to those currently being served.

3. A service provider requesting to open a new senior dining site shall submit the following information in writing to the AAA for the AAA’s review, consideration and approval prior to the opening of the new dining site:

A. Documentation of need

B. Location of new senior nutrition site selected and a brief description on how it meets the senior nutrition site criteria

C. A budget showing the cost of operation of a new senior nutrition site as it relates to the program budget and funding sources must be submitted prior to AAA approval for senior nutrition site opening, and

D. Staffing plan.

4. The nutrition contractor shall ensure written eligibility criteria for senior dining site participants, and contributions for senior dining site meals are in compliance with Provision of Title III Services Policy #6: Nutrition Services.