By Lura Barber, Director, Hunger Initiatives, National Council on Aging
At the National Council on Aging (NCOA), we work hand in hand with community-based organizations across the country to help older adults access the resources they need to be economically secure, food secure, and well nourished.
Last year, 3 million senior households lacked access to enough food for an active, healthy life, which is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s definition of “food insecure.” It’s no surprise that as the cost of living rises and incomes stay the same, many seniors decide to skip meals, reduce their food intake, or eat cheaper, less nutritious food, even at the risk of their health.
The Aging Network is an important access point for seniors living in the community to programs and resources that can improve their food security and nutritional status. The Aging Network is the collective term for organizations that include Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs), senior centers, and State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs). Programs vary by locale, but in general the Aging Network is funded by federal, state, and private dollars to provide free or low-cost assistance to any older adult living in the community.
Aging Network organizations can help a senior enroll in programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps), congregate dining, home-delivered meals, the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), the Senior Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP), and food pantries. The Aging Network also helps seniors add money to their budget by helping them enroll in programs that reduce out-of-pocket health care costs and making sure they’re getting the most out of their Medicare Part D prescription drug plan.
Ensuring that older adults have access to these programs is an important part of the battle against senior malnutrition. For example, 5 million seniors are eligible for—but not enrolled in—SNAP, which has an average monthly benefit of $110 for a senior living alone. Even the minimum SNAP benefit of $16 can help an older adult afford lean protein, fresh produce, and other foods that support health and independence. What’s more, older adults can be enrolled in SNAP and still participate in congregate dining, home-delivered meals, and other programs. Some farmer’s markets will even match the SNAP benefit in order to boost spending on fresh fruits and vegetables.
ASPEN members and other healthcare providers can partner with the Aging Network to ensure that seniors living in the community or those being discharged from care are treated for malnutrition and connected with local resources they need to stay happy, healthy, and well nourished.
This Malnutrition Awareness Week™, NCOA encourages ASPEN members to learn more about the Aging Network in their community and programs designed to help seniors maintain their nutrition. Please visit www.ncoa.org/SeniorHunger for simple steps you can take and visit www.Eldercare.gov to find Aging Network services in your area.
The views expressed in this post are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of ASPEN.
