HUNGER AND OLDER ADULTS

One of the most vulnerable populations affected by hunger is older adults. The New York State Office for the Aging estimates that one out of every four older New Yorkers living at home is considered nutritionally at risk. This translates to a staggering 728,000 New Yorkers aged 60 or older at risk of malnutrition.

Data on a national level equally demonstrate astonishingly high levels of hunger among seniors. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that 1.5 million households aged 60 or older indicated that they either did not have enough of the right types of food needed to maintain their health or simply did not have enough to eat. The 2000 Census Bureau reported a poverty rate of 10.2% for people aged 65 and older. The Hunger in America 2001 report by Second Harvest, a national network of food banks, indicated that 11% (2.5 million) of the individuals using food pantries and soup kitchens are over aged 65.

Good health is closely linked to diet. When an elderly person reduces food intake due to health problems or financial restrictions, they in fact risk their ability to maintain an independent, healthy lifestyle. Hunger increases the risk for stroke, aggravates pre-existing ill health conditions, limits the usefulness of many prescription drugs, and may affect brain chemistry increasing the incidence of depression and isolation.

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