Food Insecurity among Older Adults who Participate in SNAP

Food insecurity is a rising nutrition and public health problem in the United States, especially in older adults who already use substantially more health, medical and other services compared to the general population[1]. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has been associated with a reduction in food insecurity for households with an elderly member[2].  This analysis uses the 2012 NHIS data and an assessment of current literature to examine the extent and distribution of food insecurity among older adults, 65 and older, who receive SNAP benefits. It compares rates of food insecurity across race/ethnicity and income levels and examines food insecurity as a predictor of delaying medical care because of cost.  In the NHIS participant sample, approximately 8.5% of respondents 65 and older were receiving SNAP benefits.  Among older adults who receive SNAP benefits, 30% had scores indicating food security.  Rates of food security varied across racial and income groups, with rates from lower income groups and African Americans or Hispanics being higher.  Older adult SNAP participants, who were food insecure, were 3.75 (95% CI 2.37, 5.95) times more likely to delay medical care than those who were not food insecure, after controlling for potential confounders like race and health insurance coverage.  In light of recent changes to SNAP, there is a need for community-based organizations to provide integrated services that meet basic food needs and medical needs in order to serve our aging population.

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[1]  (Food Insecurity Among Older Adults)

[2]  (Malbi, Ohls, Dragoset, Castner, & Santos, 2013)

Learning Areas:

Public health or related education
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Describe the burden food insecurity has on older adult SNAP participants Discuss sociodemographic differences among older adult SNAP participants who are food insecure. Discuss the relationship between food insecurity and delaying medical care because of costs among older adults Discuss potential ways to integrate services that meet basic food needs and medical needs of older adults

Keyword(s): Aging, Food Security

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the Policy Analyst for the National Center for Health and the Aging. Recently, I assessed the impact of the new Farm Bill and it's changes to the SNAP program on older adults.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 5001.0: Nutrition and Aging