Aging is a natural part of life. The term “the golden years” tends to paint an idealistic picture of seniors playing golf and enjoying time with friends and family. But for 5.2 million seniors in 2020 in the U.S., retirement means attempting to live on a fixed income while experiencing food insecurity.
For the past six years, Feeding America has produced “The State of Senior Hunger in America,” an annual report that sheds light on the challenges seniors face regarding food security. The most recent report, analyzing data from 2020, concludes that the rate of food insecurity among seniors remains higher than before the Great Recession, a reflection of the growing size of the senior population.
Food insecurity negatively impacts individuals of all ages, but for seniors, these effects can be especially problematic given the unique health, economic and nutritional challenges that come with aging. Obtaining adequate nutrition is important to support healthy aging, but limited financial resources and declining health and mobility can make it hard for seniors to access nutritious food.
Findings show that food-insecure seniors consume lower quantities of key nutrients, such as iron, protein and calcium. Poor health can be both a cause and a consequence of food insecurity. For example, disability and disease contribute to employment instability and income challenges. Additionally, inadequate nutrition can increase the negative effects of disabilities and chronic health conditions.
But your support of the Foodbank helps more than 30,000 local seniors access nourishing food. Through the federal senior food box program, free DoorDash deliveries of groceries, and our extensive hunger-relief network, our hope is that seniors in need of food can find the resources necessary to support a healthy lifestyle.