AARP Florida Commends Innovative Florida Alliance Between State Officials, Restaurants To Get Meals to Older Floridians

AARP’s Florida State Director, Jeff Johnson, commended two state agencies and the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association for collaborating on an innovative effort to engage Florida restaurants to support Meals on Wheels and other elder-nutrition programs across the state.

“It’s great to see this public-private alliance finding ways to help older Floridians get access to food in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak,” Johnson said. “This initiative defines what people mean when they use the popular term ‘win-win’.”

While many Floridians are familiar with the popular Meals on Wheels program, many may not realize that a network of public-private agencies across the state regularly provide meals through locally based dining programs. These programs, operated by lead agencies at the county level, provide a break for many of Florida’s 2.9 million family caregivers while providing nutritious meals to elders. A system of 11 Area Agencies on Aging helps support and coordinate the local agencies’ work. The state Department of Elder Affairs in turn oversees the 11 Area Agencies on Aging.

Many of these dining programs have been put on hold during the coronavirus crisis to protect the health of their regular participants, many of whom are at risk of very serious illness if they catch the virus.

Many other older Floridians have heeded health officials’ warnings and are isolating themselves in their homes.

In this alliance, the state Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) will work with the state Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) and the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association to connect local restaurants as emergency food providers to elder nutrition services. Meals are to be delivered to older Floridians’ doorsteps. Secretary Richard Prudom of DOEA and Secretary Halsey Beshears of DBPR worked with FLRA President and CEO Carol Dover on the effort.

“AARP Florida commends this fresh approach,” Johnson said. “This is the kind of innovation that can make a real difference in the lives of millions of older Floridians.”