Food Bank of Iowa:
Meeting the Need 2017
Tuesday, May 16
Breakout 2: Senior Food Insecurity in Iowa
Objectives:
▪Identify two groups of seniors at greater risk
for food insecurity
▪List two health consequences of food
insecurity in seniors
▪List two programs addressing the needs with
food insecure seniors
Did you know…
▪1 in 8 Iowa seniors face hunger each day
▪Being food insecure can age you by 14 years
▪Younger seniors are more likely to be food insecure
than older seniors
▪Seniors participate in SNAP (formerly called food
stamps) at lower rates than other age groups
▪50% of diseases impacting seniors are connected to
poor diets
There is a statewide coalition working to
reduce senior hunger and food insecurity!
Food insecurity defined:
when people do not consistently
have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food
to maintain a healthy and active life
Incidence of Senior Food Insecurity
▪ Nationally – over 8% of senior population
(about 3.7 million)
National Academy Press, Nutrition across the Lifespan for Healthy Aging, 2016
▪ Iowa – 7% of senior population (over 43,000)
Sauer, J. (2013). 2013 Survey of Iowans 18+. AARP. Retrieved from: http://www.aarp.org/.
Iowa is Aging
State Data Center of Iowa and the Iowa Department on Aging Older Iowans: 2010 http://www.aging.iowa.gov/Documents/Statistics/OlderIowans2010.pdf
Who is at greater risk?
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Blacks and Latinos
Divorced and separated
Households with grandparents and grandchildren
Renters
Unemployed and disabled
Less educated
Living alone
Aging
▪ Biomarkers – disease onset, progression, and
severity
▪ Functional indicators – strength, balance
▪ Cognitive indicators – memory, processing
speed, execution
▪ ALSO – senior’s personal perspective
Overall Impacts of Food Insecurity
▪ Diminishes independence
▪ Diminishes quality of life
▪ In 2013:
▪ Average life expectancy – 77 years old
▪ Healthy life expectancy – 67 years old
National Academy Press, Nutrition across the Lifespan for Healthy Aging, 2016
Food Insecurity and Inadequate Nutrition
Contribute to the following:
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Muscle loss (Sarcopenia)
Memory loss
Depression
Fatigue
Loss of ability to care for self
Weak immune system
Cardio vascular disease, CHF, high blood pressure
Gum disease
Adequate nutrition is even MORE important for older adults who may lack
reserves
Food Secure vs. Food Insecure Seniors
Significantly lower intakes of:
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Vitamin A – vision and immunity
Vitamin C – tissues and wound healing
Thiamin – memory and mood
Vitamin B6 – antibodies and protein use
Calcium – bone strength
Phosphorous – bones and energy use
Magnesium – utilize food energy for tissues
Iron – carries oxygen in blood; anemia
Senior Nutrition Services
▪ Area Agencies on Aging
- Congregate meals
-Home delivered meals
▪ Food Banks, Food Pantries
▪ SNAP – WIN program
▪ Double up Bucks
▪ Farmer Market Nutrition Vouchers
▪ Iowa Department on Aging, LifeLong Links
Accessing Senior Programs
▪ Clients typically referred by family/friends
▪ Caregivers are in an important position to
refer seniors needing assistance
▪ Congregate meal referrals through OAA
information and assistance system
▪ Home Delivered commonly by hospitals,
health care facilities and discharge planners
Programs to meet the need A Senior who receives daily-delivered meals
experiences the greatest improvements in health and
quality of life compared to a senior who receives
frozen, weekly-delivered meals or no meals at all.
More Than A Meal: Pilot Research Study. Brown School of Public Health and Meals on Wheels America. March 2, 2015.
Iowa Home-Delivered Meal Program
Outcomes
Fresh Produce Box Program
The Fresh Produce Box Program is one project
that supports the broader work of the
coalition.
▪Funded through SNAP-Ed, Department of
Public Health
▪Produce Box coordinators in each AAA region
▪Looking for fresh produce donations
Fresh Conversations
Nutrition Education Program for Seniors in
Partnership with Area Agencies on Aging
Fresh Conversations Materials and
other Resources
Visit the Fresh Conversations web page at the
Iowa Department of Public Health website.
Fresh Conversations
For access to past issues of Fresh Conversations,
contact Doris Montgomery
515.661.7913
Lifelong Links
Statewide Resource to Locate Senior Services
Questions and Contact Information
Iowa Department on Aging
Carlene Russell, MS RDN LDN
[email protected]
515-725-3330
Iowa Department of Public Health
Doris Montgomery, MS RDN LDN
[email protected]
515.661.7913