food insecurity

NCOA and the Leading Age LTSS Center at UMass Boston released two issue briefs exploring the effects of pandemic-related food insecurity among older adults. The findings highlight the positive impact of SNAP in reducing food insecurity and call on the need for SNAP benefits provided by the American Rescue Plan to be permanent and consider increased food costs moving forward.

In Missouri, as many as one in eight seniors are struggling with food insecurity. This new report provides in-depth analysis of the factors contributing to senior hunger in the state of Missouri. It also summarizes opportunities to help alleviate local senior food insecurity.

This study highlights the issues older adults face in maintaining their health and food security status, including chronic disease, social isolation, mobility, transportation, and limited income and affordability. This study engaged almost 150 older adults and 90 program managers and community agencies across 9 states. It examined 17 different program delivery models, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Commodity Food Supplemental Program (CSFP).

This report analyzes data on food insecurity among older adults ages 60 and over. It illustrates that while the food-insecurity rate for this population has recently declined, it is still significantly higher than a decade ago. This report also highlights sub-segments of this population who are at particularly high risk of experiencing food insecurity, including older adults with disabilities and older adults who are racial or ethnic minorities.

Meals on Wheels of America released a new report, funded by the AARP and Caesars Foundations, titled Hunger in Older Adults: Challenges and Opportunities for the Aging Network. This first-of-its-kind resource explores a variety of available food assistance programs that can be used in combination to more effectively address the needs of seniors in your community.

IMPAQ International and AARP Foundation recently released an issue brief titled “Addressing Food Insecurity in Primary Care: Models for Patient Screening and Referral.” Recognizing the importance of food security on health and health care outcomes for older adults, the issue brief describes ways in which health systems have implemented food security screening and referral processes, including partnering with community organizations for referrals, and key factors in their success.

This report provides an overview of the extent and distribution of food insecurity in 2013 among seniors, along with trends over the past decade using national and state-level data.The report finds senior hunger is on the rise, and in 2013, 15.5% of seniors (or 9.6 million) faced the threat of hunger. If you would like to request a hard copy version, please email Ali Diaz at adiaz@advancingstates.org

In light of a rapidly aging population, increasing costs, and funding that is not keeping pace, programs like Meals on Wheels face unprecedented challenges to meet the growing need for meal and nutrition services. Decision-makers at all levels of government and community-based organizations within the Aging Network are increasingly seeking lower cost solutions to stretch constrained budgets. This report investigates the impact of meal service delivery on the health and well-being of adults 60+.