Food Insecurity & Older AdultsPrevalence. Impact. Drivers. Solutions?

Diane Oyler, Ph.D.Coordinator of Neighborhood ServicesErie County Department of Senior Services

Food Insecurity: What Does It Look Like?

• Limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods.

• Limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways.

Classifying Food Insecurity

• Low food security—Households reduced the quality, variety, and desirability of their diets, but the quantity of food intake and normal eating patterns were not substantially disrupted.

• Very low food security—At times during the year, eating patterns of one or more household members were disrupted and food intake reduced because the household lacked money and other resources for food.

How Do You Know? Measures of Food Insecurity

Food Insecure. The three least severe conditions that would result in a household being classified as food insecure are:• They worried whether their food would run out before they got money to buy more.• The food they bought didn't last, and they didn't have money to get more.• They couldn't afford to eat balanced meals.

Very Low Food Security. To be classified as having "very low food security," households with no children present must report at least the three conditions listed above and also that:• Adults ate less than they felt they should.• Adults cut the size of meals or skipped meals and did so in 3 or more months.

Prevalence60-69 70+

Low Food Security 5.4% 4.1%

Very Low Food Security 3.8% 2.0%

Total 9.2% 6.1%

Food Insecurity Among Older Adults, AARP Foundation 2015

Prevalence over time

“Older Adults Face Increasing Risk of Hunger” AARP (2014)

Impact:Increased Likelihood of Poor Health Outcomes

DepressionAsthmaHeart diseaseChronic diseases

• High blood pressure• High cholesterol• Diabetes

DriversWhat contributes to the mess?

• Environmental factors• food deserts

• Personal factors• lack of income• inability to shop for groceries• not able to cook for oneself• lack of knowledge of available help

• Political factors• funding constraints• eligibility criteria• misguided “duplication” avoidance

Strategies for Turning the Curve

Drivers

• Environmental factors• food deserts

• Personal factors• lack of income• inability to shop for groceries• not able to cook for oneself• lack of knowledge of available help

Responses

• Working with small local grocers to increase offering of healthy food choices.• SNAP• Food pantries• Congregate dining• Shopping Assistance programs• Home-delivered meals

Congregate Meals: Do they work?

• More than half of the congregate participants are 75 and older,• 58% of the congregate participants indicated that one congregate

meal provides one-half or more of their total food for the day,• 77% of the congregate participants indicated that they eat healthier

as a result of the meal program, and• 76% of the congregate participants indicated their health has

improved as a result of eating at the lunch program.

Home delivered Meals: Do they work?

• 70% of individuals served by this program are over 75 years old,• More than 60% of participants indicate that the single home-

delivered meal provides one-half or more of their total food for the day,• 91% of participants indicate that the Home-Delivered nutrition

program helps them to stay in their own home, and• More than half of all participants live alone.

Problems with traditional strategies

• Eligibility criteria• Under-utilization• Inadequate funding

Doing Better

• De-stigmatize • Creative partnerships to combine awareness with something fun

• Expand availability• Increasing the number of congregate dining sites

• Expand access• Creative partnerships to get people to dining sites• Working with case managers to maximize SNAP benefits

How Can We Do Even Better?

diane.oyler@erie.gov