Linking Elders with Local Foods for Better Health
Caitlin Dempsey MSW, Alixandra West MSW, Heather Lutton MS II, Charlotte Reback MD
University of Vermont, Burlington VT 2011 VT SEARCH Scholars Project
BACKGROUND
Vermont is one of the nation’s leaders in the local
food movement, valuing the positive impact of fresh organic
food on the health of all age groups. This is apparent in its
wealth of farmer’s markets, Community Shared Agriculture,
farm stands, and organic produce in super markets. While
many Vermonters utilize these resources, there are barriers
for certain populations to access of local food, especially
among senior populations. This project focused on the
senior population in Chittenden County, using PACE
Vermont, a program of all-inclusive care for the elderly, as an
intermediary.
Our project sought to: a) gather information about the
current level of access to local food among seniors at PACE,
b) determine some of the perceived barriers to accessing
and purchasing local foods for this population, and c)
increase access to local foods among PACE seniors through
education, outreach, and connection to local food providers.
Sam Mazza’s Farm Stand in Colchester, VT
Participants purchase local produce
PACE participants identify local ingredients in healthy recipes
METHODS
Prior to commencement of the project, an
informational presentation regarding the Farm to Plate
Strategic Plan, which focuses on promoting the local food
movement was attended to become familiar with the barriers
to access to local food. Financial and educational barriers
were found to be most significant. Surveys were created to
inquire about PACE participants’ perceived barriers as well
as gain information about the participants’ background and
their knowledge of, interest in, and average consumption of
local food.
In response to finding that the most significant
barriers to access to local food (in order of significance)
were physical, financial, and educational in nature,
community connections with relevant agencies were made:
Physical: Digger’s Mirth, a mobile farmers’ market,
was contacted regarding using PACE as a potential location
for their mobile farmers’ market.
Financial: Hunger Free Vermont and The Champlain
Valley Agency on Aging (CVAA) were contacted to gain
insight into how 3SquaresVT can alleviate the financial
barriers to access of local food. The Northeast Organic
Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA VT) was also
contacted regarding the potential for PACE as a pilot site for
a grant funded subsidized local food program for elders.
Educational: Champlain Valley Agency on Aging
Nutrition Director, who supplies food to PACE via the
Burlington School food system was contacted. Information
about the PACE menu was gathered to evaluate the current
level of access to local foods that seniors experience
through PACE.
As a method of education and outreach, four weekly
student-organized activities were carried out: 1) Cooking
salsa with local vegetables, 2) “Healthify” your favorite
recipes with local foods, 3) Individualized cooking for
diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and 4) “How
3SquaresVT can help you eat local”. These activities were
designed to increase awareness of and interest in local
foods, and knowledge about how they can be incorporated
into any diet.
United States Department of Agriculture, 2007 Census of Agriculture, Table 2, www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2007/Full_Report/Volume_1,_Chapter_1_State_Level/Vermont/st50_1_002_002.pdf.
Vermont Council on Rural Development. Vermont Working Landscape Partnership Action Plan, December 2010. http://vtrural.org/sites/default/files/library/files/working%20landscape/WorkingLandscapePlatform.pdf.
Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund. Farm to Plate Strategic Plan. Montpelier: n.p., 2011. Print.
DISCUSSION
RESULTS
Diabetes/ Pre-diabetes
50%
History of stroke
33%
Many of the participants surveyed were native
Vermonters and highly valued local food but had
significant trouble obtaining it. Our findings of the
barriers to access for local food replicated those of
the Farm to Plate research. Specifically, that the
majority of PACE participants surveyed identified
financial and educational (i.e. awareness, stigma)
challenges regarding obtaining local food.
Additionally, we discovered transportation and
physical navigation as barriers unique to the elderly
population. These newly identified barriers are
further heightened by the rural location of local food
sources specific to Vermont.
Wheelchair/limited mobility
75%
CONCLUSIONS
Table 1. Baseline Characteristics
Characteristic
N=12
Median age, years (range)
78 (67-91)
Female sex
58%
Raised in Vermont
58%
Major Health Concerns
Arthritis
8%
Table 2. Local Food Data
Measurement
Percent of Surveyed
Participants (N=12)
Frequency of Local Food Consumption
Daily
Once a Week
Once a Month
Unsure
8%
50%
17%
25%
Perceived Barriers to Local Food
Consumption
Transportation issues
Expense
Lack of knowledge about local produce
Limitations caused by physical handicap
None/No interest
92%
50%
8%
58%
17%
• Though Vermont is the national leader in the
local food movement, elders’ have trouble
accessing it due to physical, financial, and
educational barriers.
•More can be done on an individual and
community level to increase Vermont elders’
access to local food.
FUTURE DIRECTIONS
•Educate seniors and their families about availability of local
foods.
•Maintain contact with NOFA, Digger’s Mirth, and CVAA.
•Broaden the target population to include Chittenden
County elders not participating in the PACE program.
•Educate Farmers’ Market stakeholders regarding the
physical barriers unique to elders and collaborate to
overcome them.
•Compile an exhaustive list of local food sources in
Chittenden County.
•Share project findings with Farm to Plate and initiate
dialogue regarding Linking Elders with Local Food for Better
Health projects in years to come.
This program is funded by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)