Senior Hunger In America: Shocking Facts Vs. Popular Myths

Posted: 7/17/11 10:42 AM ET

HuffingtonPost.com

By Enid Borden, President and CEO of the Meals On Wheels Association of America

Who knew comedian Ricky Gervais could be serious? Better yet, who knew we would share anything in common? But his blog post about getting older and life being too short struck a familiar chord and got me thinking, "who knew?"

Like Ricky, my youthful and current photos would mock each other if they could. As I get older (and I have a few more years on him!), my vision has also gotten worse, but my passion and convictions have become stronger.

My passion is to bring an end to Senior Hunger in the U.S. by 2020. My conviction is that we can make this happen, and that's why I work for Meals on Wheels Association of America.Yet it is a daunting challenge. How do we make this happen when the seriousness of the issue is not as well understood as it should be? Why does it matter that seniors are going hungry?

Of course, there are some obvious reasons for why this should matter. But assuming that not everyone shares my passion (yet), let's start by dispelling some troubling myths about senior hunger.

Myth - Seniors are not going hungry in the U.S.
FACT - As of 2009, there were almost 1 million seniors in the U.S. who go hungry because they cannot afford to buy food. Another 5 million seniors in the U.S. faced the threat of hunger. In one of the world's richest nations, no older American should be going hungry. However instead, in recent years, hunger rates have more than doubled for poor seniors in the country, and it is likely to get worse as the older population is the fastest growing cohort of the U.S. population..

Myth - Senior hunger is only a problem for poor people.
FACT - While low-income seniors suffer more, and often have to make disquieting choices between purchasing medication or food, senior hunger is not just an income issue. It is also a problem of access and care. Many seniors who can afford it, lack the mobility to get and prepare their own meals and don't have other support systems to help them. Those same seniors and others live in areas that are more difficult to access.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of Meals On Wheels programs and volunteers on the ground, that we represent, some of these seniors will get a home-delivered meal and a caring visit. But not everyone who needs help. Right now and especially in this tough economic climate, our members lack the resources they need to make that happen.

Myth - The government will take care of it.
FACT - They haven't so far and they could do a lot more. Unfortunately, the reality is that the federal share of funding that goes towards addressing Senior Hunger is so small relative to the impact and savings that would result with more funding. How's that? Approximately 50 percent of all health concerns affecting older Americans are directly connected to a lack of nutrients. The cost of a year's worth of nutritious home-delivered meals that could sustain the health and nutrition of our seniors is roughly equal to the cost of just one day in the hospital. That's a serious savings! But ironically enough, in the name of saving federal dollars, as the Older Americans Act is up for reauthorization, there is a serious risk of policy makers cutting funding on a program that could save us much more in the short and long term.

Myth - This issue doesn't affect you.
FACT - This issue DOES affect you in one way or another. You could care because as an American, it is appalling that another American is suffering when they don't have to be. If not, whether it is your grandparent, mother, father, brother, sister, or friend, chances are someone you care about is over the age of 60. What if your loved ones lacked access to regular meals and you couldn't help them? And sorry to burst your bubble my friend, but everyone gets old, including you and I. Are you sure you will get the care and nutrition YOU need in your later years? You are not as removed from the problem of senior hunger as you think.
Just as I get a little bit older each day, my passion to see a world without hunger grows stronger. I know I won't persuade everyone and some say my goal is too ambitious. But I hope my passion has moved some of you to help us make this vision a reality by donating your time, voice, money, skills or by just learning more about senior hunger on our website (www.mowaa.org) If you care a little bit more about this than you did yesterday, we are a step closer to ending senior hunger.

Hunger is a Serious Threat Facing LA’s Seniors

Residents of Los Angeles who are aging, ill, disabled or living below the poverty line suffer from the highest rates of hunger and food insecurity in our community. This population lies at the heart of St. Vincent Meals on Wheels’ mission.

• Currently, 9.6% of the population in Los Angeles County is 65 and above. Persons reaching age 65 have an average life expectancy of an additional 18.6 years.
• 30% of the older population in metro Los Angeles has difficulties with the activities of daily living including preparing meals, shopping, managing money, using the telephone, doing housework and taking medication.
• 31% of metro L.A. seniors report poor or fair health, with 22% reporting heart disease, 60% reporting high blood pressure and 17% diagnosed with diabetes. 18% have been diagnosed with cancers (other than skin cancer).
• Nearly 13% of metro L.A. seniors live below the poverty line. Many more live on small fixed incomes.
• The cost to provide a senior with a nutritious meal and a daily home visit is $6.98.  It’s a small price to help them maintain their independence when the cost of one day in a nursing home costs up to $219.

The Meals On Wheels Association of America found that nearly six million seniors in the U.S. faced the threat of hunger in 2007.
11.4% of all seniors experienced some form of food insecurity. Of these, about 2.5 million were at risk of hunger and about 750,000 suffered from hunger due to financial constraints.

The Health Consequences of Senior Hunger

According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, hunger has health consequences for Americans over the age of 60.
After controlling for other risk factors, seniors experiencing food insecurity are:

• Significantly more likely to have lower intakes of energy and major vitamins.
• Significantly more likely to be in poor or fair health.
• More likely to have limitations in activities of daily living.


Senior hunger is a growing problem

By the year 2030, the aging population of L.A. County is expected to reach 18.5%; that’s one in five residents. As the 78 million baby boomers in the U.S. continue to age beyond 65, there will be an explosion in the need for in-home support services for seniors.

For more information on senior hunger and resources, go to: