Elders at The Table Senior Hunger Awareness in Central Indiana Date: April 2017 Presenter: XXXX

Elders At the Table Our Purpose The Elders at the Table (EAT) Coalition is a Central Indiana collaboration to end hunger and malnutrition one senior at a time

Definitions

Hunger VS Food Insecurity While food insecurity and hunger often go hand-in-hand, there is a distinction between the two Not all research entities recognize this causing some confusion at times Poverty and hunger in America often go hand in hand, but poverty is not the ultimate determinant of food insecurity. People living above the poverty line are often at risk of hunger as well. Research demonstrates that unemployment, rather than poverty, is a better predictor of food insecurity among people living in the United States. – Feeding America.

Hunger Hunger – A weakened condition brought about by a prolonged lack of food (Webster’s 9th New Collegiate Dictionary) Senior hunger – individuals of advanced age who may be particularly vulnerable due to the negative health and nutrition implications of food insecurity (feedingamerica.org)

Malnutrition Used to describe any condition in which the body does not receive enough nutrients for proper function. (medicine.net)

Food Insecurity Lack of access to enough food for an active*, healthy lifestyle and limited availability of nutritionally adequate foods (USDA) *to the greatest extent possible – varies by individual

Food Desert An area where a substantial number or share of residents have low access to a supermarket or large grocery store (Healthy Food Financing Initiative Working Group) Areas that lack access to affordable fruit, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat milk, and other foods that make up a healthy diet (CDC) - In 2014, Indiana ranked worst in nation for food deserts (Walk Score Reports)

Scope of the Problem

Contributors of Senior Hunger Food insecurity caused by inability to acquire and/or afford nutritionally adequate food Lack of transportation Limited access to food in food desert areas Limited financial resources due to decrease in benefits (SNAP) or limited income Decreased appetite due to health/chronic conditions and malnutrition Isolation due to limited or no support systems Depression Limited food supply in the household Source: Feeding America’s Spotlight on Senior Hunger, Hunger Blog, and Health, hunger and the older adult; 2016-17 Limited food supply occurs most often in single family homes where female is head of household or in households where grandparents are raising their grandchildren.

National Numbers In 2011, 1 in 12 seniors had limited access to food In 2014, 1 in 6 faced the “threat” of hunger as a result of food insecurity Every day, 10,000 baby boomers are turning 65 and many are retiring with less money than needed (Feeding America; National Foundation to End Senior Hunger; Feeding America’s Senior Hunger Study; Meals on Wheels “The Issue”) When you look at households with a member who is age 50 and older, food insecurity rate is 81%! One quarter of today’s 65-year-olds will live past 90!

face the threat of hunger. Indiana Numbers Nearly 16% of all adults in Indiana age 60+ face the threat of hunger. (National Foundation to End Senior Hunger (NFESH))

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Nationally, only 41% of seniors who are eligible to receive SNAP are actually enrolled In Indiana, only 33% of eligible seniors are participating in SNAP* Source: Feeding Indiana’s Hungry, Indiana’s State Association of Food Banks, SNAP. http://feedingindianashungry.org/blog/snap/

The FACE is someone you know… Your Relative Your Co-Worker Your Neighbor Your Friend Your favorite Veteran

Age, Income, Race, Ethnicity, Marital and Employment Status and Household Size all significantly affect the THREAT OF SENIOR HUNGER. (State of Senior Hunger in America 2014: An Annual Report, Ziliak/Gunderson)

At Greatest Risk of Hunger, If… Below 100% of federal poverty ($11,880 for single household) Blacks Hispanics Age 60-64 Divorced or separated Unemployed Females Seniors raising grandchildren (State of Senior Hunger in America 2014: An Annual Report, Ziliak/Gunderson)

Impact on Health

Nationwide, 63% of households with at least one senior are making choices between paying for FOOD and paying for their MEDICINES/MEDICAL CARE. (Hunger in America Report 2014)

The Statistics and Health Food insecure seniors are 2.33 times more likely to report fair/poor health status Food insecure seniors are more likely to develop adverse health conditions 60% more likely to experience depression 47% reported that a member had diabetes 53% more likely to report a heart attack 77% reported a member with high blood pressure 40% more likely to report an experience of congestive heart failure 52% more likely to develop asthma (Feeding America’s Spotlight on Senior Health) Food insecure seniors were found to have lower body weight and lower “global” quality of life.

79% of seniors reported purchasing cheapest food available, even if they knew it wasn’t the healthiest.

(Feeding America’s Spotlight on Senior Health Executive Summary) The Nutrition Picture Food insecure seniors were found to consume fewer key nutrients: Calories, protein, carbohydrate, saturated fat, niacin, riboflavin, Vitamin B-6, Vitamin B-12, magnesium, iron & zinc (Feeding America’s Spotlight on Senior Health Executive Summary)

(mealsonwheelsindy.org) Impact of Current Services Meals on Wheels reports 83% of clients say that meals help improve their overall health Meals on Wheels of Central Indiana Quick Facts: 3,200 deliveries annually 2 meals a day (hot & cold) Meals medically tailored by physician for client’s health needs Greater independence for homebound Daily checks on client’s welfare Senior Friendly food pantry (mealsonwheelsindy.org)

Impact of Current Services Gleaners Food Bank’s Senior Programs add additional shopping days & food selection to seniors age 55+ There are 5 Senior Pantries in Marion County, combined they provided service to 10,637 seniors age 55+ At Gleaners’ Senior Shopping Day, 3,305 seniors age 55+ alone were served during 2016 Gleaners operates 9 county Senior Mobile Pantries monthly Over 15,660 seniors 55+ were served through these mobile pantries in 2016 -Gleaners provides Senior Mobile Pantries which operate in 9 counties within its 21 county area.

Impact of Current Services CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions In 2016, they provided Congregate Meals at 24 meal sites in 8 central Indiana counties. The Congregate Meal Program served 1,797 clients a total of 107,085 meals. In 2016, they provided 308,717 home delivered frozen meals to 1,883 clients. CICOA delivers frozen, wholesome meals bi-weekly to residents of Marion and the surrounding counties (Marion, Hamilton, Boone, Hendricks, Hancock, Shelby, Johnson, and Morgan) Monday-Friday. Daily hot meal deliveries are available in Hamilton, Hancock and Hendricks counties.

Impact of Current Services CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions 73% reported that their health has improved since going to their neighborhood meal site 70% indicate the meal delivery person is the only person they see some days 43% of neighborhood meal participants and 54% of home delivered meal participants say that it is the only meal they eat sometimes In 2015-2016, CICOA surveyed clients on impact of the meals served or delivered. Results…

Impact of Current Services Elders at The Table Coalition (2013-2015) Provided SNAP application assistance to 600 seniors through 150 trained direct workers on SNAP enrollment Increased number of food vouchers distributed to Central Indiana seniors by 59% Increased number of food voucher distribution and redemption sites to 9 and issued 11,423 meal vouchers with a 57% redemption rate. Elders at The Table received $150,000 for 2013-2015 from the Central Indiana Senior Fund, a Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF) Fund for 2013-2015. With these financial resources, EAT members were able to increase and enhance or implement new services for the older adults they serve in central Indiana.

Impact of Current Services Elders at The Table Coalition (2013-2015) EAT Coalition created 8 co-located senior friendly food pantries at congregate meal sites A proxy shopper program now exists via Meals on Wheels 101 volunteers were recruited and trained to provide proxy shopping service. 200 unduplicated homebound, low-income seniors have access to nutritious food via the proxy shopper program. 5 EAT members have replicated the Proxy Shopper model. Proxy shopper details: This program recruits and trains volunteers to shop for homebound seniors at food pantries and delivers their groceries.

What is Coming… By 2040, there will be 80 million older adults (twice as many as in 2000) Seniors have unique nutritional needs and challenges! Between 2012 and 2030 the senior population will be more diverse Older minorities are projected to increase 125% Urgent need for adequate and culturally appropriate nutrition services!

What is Needed… Empower healthy eating through education Provide seniors with nutritious food that they can prepare and consume at home Increase access to food that meets the unique nutritional needs of seniors Foods to Encourage: Fruits & Vegetables – fresh, frozen & canned Whole grains Low-fat dairy Lean proteins

Call to Action Donate healthy foods to food pantries Check in on seniors in your life - including neighbors! Invite a senior neighbor to a family or holiday meal or take them a meal! Become familiar with resources in your area by visiting www.eatcoalition.org and like us on Call EAT at 317-721-7028 or email at eat.coalition@gmail.com

Call to Action Advocate for senior issues! For Immediate Assistance: Visit National Council on Aging (NCOA) to keep abreast of legislation affecting seniors www.ncoa.org For Immediate Assistance: Call Connect to Help by dialing 2-1-1 or 317- 926-HELP