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Study shows 2-5 percent of Kansas seniors go hungry
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| By: Ryan D. Wilson, Staff Reporter |
April 24, 2009 |
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More seniors go hungry or are worried about their food than you would think, seniors at Thursday's Lunch Bunch learned.
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Barb LeClair, from the Kansas Health Institute, cited a national Meals on Wheels study looking at data from 2001 to 2005 that showed Kansas to be among the top rates as far as numbers of seniors going hungry - 2 to 5 percent. Kansas was also in the middle as far seniors who were marginally insecure about their food - 10 to 12 percent.
"I think we have reason to be concerned," LeClair said.
The study also found some other surprising results, LeClair said, including that younger seniors (60 to 69) expressed more of a concern about not having enough food and seniors living with a grandchild were more likely to be concerned about having enough food or going hungry.
LeClair said the younger seniors are probably struggling more to make ends meet because they aren't yet eligible for Medicare or aren't yet tapping Social Security benefits.
"An 84 year old is over one-third less likely to be at-risk of hunger than a 64 year old on the baseline food insecurity rate of 5.6 percent," the study said.
Seniors living with a grandchild, regardless of whether the parent is there with them or not, are "at a significantly higher risk for going hungry than a senior who does not," LeClair said.
Those living with a grandchild are 6 percentage points more as likely to be food insecure than those who do not, the study said. Over half of those who have a grandchild living with them are food insecure.
"What we think is happening is grandparents are sacrificing their own nutrition and giving more to their grandchildren," LeClair said. "Its cause for concern, because even though we some systems of support in place to help grandparents raise children, clearly it's not enough."
The study also confirmed other factors in seniors who were food insecure or going hunger that were not surprising - that those who were socially isolated, living alone, and financially insecure also tended to be food insecure.
Seniors insecure about their food also tended to be diabetic or not in good health, more likely to be suffering from depression and more likely to have limitations in being able to conduct daily living activities.
Despite nutritional programs being available to seniors, many don't take advantage of them, LeClair said.
Only about a third of seniors who are eligible to receive food stamps use them. Confusion about eligibility, the application process and a low monthly benefit are barriers to seniors using food stamps. However most don't take them because they don't want them.
"Food stamps aren't very popular among low-income seniors," LeClair said. "I think it's a matter of pride. Most folks don't want to be seen as accepting Welfare."
The low monthly benefit - a minimum of $16 a month - is also a barrier, though most seniors receive more than that. Some seniors don't see it as worth their time to apply for.
However that monthly benefit can be carried over month to month for up to a year, LeClair said.
"I tell them to save it up to use as their emergency food fund for when they run short or to save it up for a special family meal," she said. "You take $16 by 12 months, that's almost $200, that's worth your time."
Senior congregation meals, in-home delivery, commodities distribution, SHARE programs, and locally supported food pantries and soup kitchens also help fill the gap and stretch food budgets, LeClair said.
While 2008 was a tough year, LeClair said officials expect percentages of those hungry and insecure about their food will remain constant.
With more baby-boomers retiring and becoming part of the senior population, the number seniors who will be food insecure are "creeping up," she said.
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©Clay Center Dispatch 2009
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Brenda Lovit |
Apr, 30 2009 |
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I agree 100àIf you are to proud to except the Food stamps given to you, You must not be to hungry.Every little bit helps in those days and filling out Papers is not a big Deal. Get help.
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