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| Source: Meals on Wheels America |
So the question is: Why has there been a 27 percent increase in the number of Palm Beach seniors using benefits from SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps) to get food on the dinner table? Even more astonishing, almost 50 percent of these seniors living in Palm Beach County chronically don�t have enough food to eat and actually qualify for SNAP but don�t use this benefit.
I was speechless when I read these shocking statistics in a recent report entitled, Hunger in Older Adults, which was spearheaded by the Meals on Wheels America. It is estimated that more than 10 million older Americans (16 percent of older adults) experience hunger annually. Here�s the real shock: some of these folks have incomes above the poverty level. Some older adults may not be poor (or have incomes below the poverty line) but they may not have enough money to purchase or the ability to shop or prepare healthy foods on a regular basis.
�Financial limitations are the key cause of food insecurity among older adults,� claims Angel Planells, registered dietitian nutritionist and media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. �These folks are trying to stretch their food budget to get the most bang for their buck.� Unfortunately, they may be purchasing cheaper, less nutritious foods down the snack food aisle to feed their hunger rather than the healthier items in the produce aisle. Skipping meals, which will also negatively affect the quality of their diet, is another strategy that has been shown to be used among older adults to stretch their fixed income.
According to the Hunger in Older Adults report, it is estimated that up to 50 percent of older adults in the United States may be malnourished due to a poor diet. A chronic lack of adequate amounts of nutrients, such as protein, iron, and many B vitamins in the diet can cause the loss of muscle mass, increased fatigue, an impaired immune system, and a decline in cognitive health. This in turn can set the stage for diseases and conditions such as diabetes, heart issues, gum disease, depression, and asthma, according to the research.
Factors other than financial constraints are involved. Poor physical and mental health, mobility limitations, lack of adequate transportation, functional limitations, lack of access to a local supermarket, and the inability to choose and prepare healthy foods also play a role, according to Uche Akobundu, Director Project Management and Impact and a registered dietitian nutritionist with Meals on Wheels America. �There are vulnerable older Americans who may have the economic resources to eat a healthy diet but a variety of health and other limitations prevent them from obtaining and consuming healthy foods,� claims Akobundu.
Ironically, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released the latest statistics about the weight of our nation. According to CDC,over 70 percent of Americans are overweight. So the million dollar question we should be asking is: how can we be overfeeding ourselves as a nation when some of our elder family members and neighbors are being forced to skip or skimp on dinner because they can�t afford or have access to a healthy meal?
Luckily, there are some assistance programs in place to help older adults:
in the United States. Qualifying older adults can apply and receive an electronic benefit transfer card that can be used to buy eligible foods from a food store. It is estimated that from 2008 to 2014, the average monthly number of older adults using SNAP benefits increased by 85 percent.
� Meals on Wheels and Congregate Meal Programs: These programs provide nutritious meals and opportunities for socialization to ambulatory and homebound older adults in the community. Homebound older adults also receive safety check by volunteers or staff members.
� Feeding America is the leading private, non-profit organization to help feed those that are at risk of hunger. Their network of 200 foodbanks and 60,000 food pantries can supply supplemental food to older adults to help them stretch their food budget.
� Seniors Farmers Markets Programs: In some states, seniors can obtain coupons that can be exchanged for fruits and vegetables at farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community-supported agriculture programs.
�Unfortunately, many folks don�t apply or use these food assistance programs due to personal pride, fear of �welfare stigma�, embarrassment, difficulty with the application process, and/or inaccurate perceptions of the application process,� notes Akobundu. This is why we all need to be aware of this hunger issue among our older adults and step up to help.
This is what you can do:
� Engage with the older relatives in your family to make sure that they have the resources to purchase and prepare nutritious meals and they are eating the meals.
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Help older adults in your community obtain aid from local and state assistance programs if they qualify.
� Adopt an older adult in your neighborhood. Family is one thing; good neighbors are another. Check to see if they are in need of food weekly.
� Take an older adult with you when you go food shopping. Having access to a supermarket may be the only reason they don�t have healthy foods in their kitchen.
� When you cook, make extras and freeze them in portion sizes appropriate for a meal. Once a week, drop off these meals to your older adult neighbor for use throughout the week.
� Volunteer at your local Meals on Wheels Program to deliver meals to homebound older adults in your neighborhood.
� Take time to eat with a person who may be eating a meal by themselves. Mealtime is a social occasion. Seniors tend to eat as much as they should when they dine with others than by themselves.
Grandma and grandpa shouldn�t be hungry even if they aren�t your grandparents.
Be well, Joan
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