skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Saturday, September 30, 2023

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Educators preserve, shape future with 'ALT NEW COLLEGE'; NY appeals court denies delay for Trump civil fraud trial; Michigan coalition gets cash influx to improve childcare.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

A House Committee begins its first hearing in the Biden impeachment inquiry, members of Congress talk about the looming budget deadline and energy officials testify about the Maui wildfires.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

A small fire department in rural Indiana is determined not to fail new moms and babies, the growing election denial movement has caused voting districts to change procedures and autumn promises spectacular scenery along America's rural byways.

Millions of Older Adults Experience Food Insecurity

play audio
Play

Thursday, September 29, 2022   

Some 35 million people in Wyoming and across the U.S. struggle to put food on the table, and older adults experiencing food insecurity face numerous chronic health risks.

Alexandra Ashbrook - director of root causes and specific populations with the Food Research and Action Center - said generally, older Americans experience less food insecurity.

But she said due to longstanding structural inequities, some are at greater risk than others.

"Older adults who are Black or Latinx or Native American face higher rates of food insecurity," said Ashbrook. "And older adults raising children, so-called 'grandfamilies,' face higher rates of food insecurity."

People living in rural areas and low-income households are also at greater risk of developing chronic illness associated with food insecurity - including diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

Many forgo medical care and medication to pay for food.

Ashbrook said the good news is that there are proven strategies for reducing food insecurity - including SNAP, the program formerly known as food stamps.

Just 48% of older adults eligible for food assistance participate in SNAP, according to the most recent data.

Ashbrook said pride and the stigma associated with food stamps are major barriers. But she pointed out that Americans paid into the program their entire working lives in taxes to ensure that healthy, nutritious food is available in times of need.

"Older adults also may think that if they accept SNAP, that means someone else won't be able to access SNAP," said Ashbrook. "SNAP is actually a program that's available to anyone who meets eligibility. So it's not as if I participate in SNAP, I'm taking someone else's place."

Food insecurity among older adults living alone reached the highest rate in 20 years between 2020 and 2021, a time when fixed incomes were not able to keep up with rising costs.

Those adults were also not able to access the Child Tax Credit or other expanded federal programs.

Ashbrook noted that health care providers, a trusted resources for older adults, are well positioned to help if given proper tools and training.

"Identifying which patients are at risk of food insecurity," said Ashbrook, "and then connecting them to resources like SNAP, home delivered meals and congregate meals - health-care providers can play a role in addressing not only food insecurity but improving health and nutrition."




get more stories like this via email
more stories
Michigan is among 20 states to receive a multiyear grant from the Pritzker Children's Initiative. (SneakyPeakPoints/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

The coalition known as "Think Babies Michigan" has secured more than $36 million in funding to offer grants to child-care providers for infants and to…


Social Issues

play sound

Nearly 100 school board elections are coming up in Minnesota this fall, with some gaining attention because of the candidates who are running…

Social Issues

play sound

The so-called conservative "hostile takeover" of a small, progressive liberal arts college in Florida is seeing some resistance from former students …


Only 546 of the tenants in the the 5,563 eviction cases filed in Nebraska in the first half of 2023 were represented by legal counsel. (tab62/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

High rent prices are draining the budgets of many Nebraska renters, who are paying between 30% and 50% of their income on rent. In some parts of the …

Social Issues

play sound

As the federal government nears a shutdown over a budget impasse in Congress, Wisconsin offices that help low-income individuals worry they'll have …

Lewiston, Idaho, sits on the Snake River at the border with Washington. (Guy Sagi/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Indigenous leaders are traveling through the Northwest to highlight the plight of dwindling fish populations in the region. The All Our Relations …

Social Issues

play sound

A lack of housing options, mental-health challenges and a lack of connections and support have combined to drive an uptick in the number of foster …

Social Issues

play sound

Connecticut advocates are keen to see what will come from the recently established White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. The new office …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021