A Growing Concern

After a lifetime of hard work, seniors whose fixed incomes have not kept pace with rising prices are increasingly at risk of hunger.

For older adults, inadequate diets can contribute to or worsen disease and delay recovery from illnesses. Many seniors across Northwest North Carolina are having to make hard choices between using their incomes for food, or for medicine. 

A new report released in 2020 using 2018 data, found that 5.3 million seniors, or 7.3% of the senior population, were food insecure in 2018. The 2020 release also includes Hunger Among Adults Age 50-59 in 2018. Findings reveal that in 2018, an estimated 10.6% of older adults age 50-59 are food insecure. 

A Quiet Crisis

Hunger among our seniors plays out quietly in homes across Northwest North Carolina as many older adults find themselves facing impossible choices, including choosing whether to buy groceries or pay for medical care and medications. As the baby-boom generation ages, the number of seniors facing hunger is expected to grow.

The rate of hunger among seniors aged 60 and older has increased by 45% since 2001, a lingering effect of the 2008-09 recession. At the current rate, the number of food-insecure seniors may grow to more than 8 million by 2050. 

Showing Up for Seniors

Our community-based partner food assistance network is a lifeline of support for an increasing number of seniors. As well, because we know that many seniors who are eligible to receive Food and Nutrition Services (Food Stamps) are not, we place special emphasis on reaching seniors through our outreach efforts.