There could be some changes coming to senior nutrition services providers, after the Deep East Texas Council of Governments Health and Human Services Advisory Committee met last week in Jasper. The group reviewed the Area Agency on Aging's recommendation for Fiscal Year 2015-2016 to shift from congregate meals, such as those served at nutrition centers, to home delivered meals. The trend has been for younger "baby boom" seniors to not come together at county senior centers.

In addition, older senior citizens that have been gathering for meals are aging and becoming more dependent on home delivered meals.

The new plan also proposes to add more Spanish speaking staff because of the increase in the Spanish speaking population of Deep East Texas, and finding more ways to reach out to minority populations.

The Health and Human Services Advisory Committee recommendations will be presented to the DETCOG Board Thursday when they meet in Crockett.

Shelby County Outreach Ministries runs the nutrition sites in Center and San Augustine, say they served 916 congregate meals in January between both locations, and almost 1,700 meals were delivered through Meals on Wheels.