1. Food Bank of Iowa: Meeting the Need 2017
Tuesday, May 16
Breakout 2: Senior Food Insecurity in Iowa

2. 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

3. 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

4. There is a statewide coalition working to reduce senior hunger and food insecurity!

5. Food insecurity defined:
when people do not consistently have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life

6. 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) Survey of Iowans 18+. AARP. Retrieved from:

7. Iowa is Aging
State Data Center of Iowa and the Iowa Department on Aging Older Iowans:

8. Who is at greater risk? Blacks and Latinos Divorced and separated
Households with grandparents and grandchildren
Renters
Unemployed and disabled
Less educated
Living alone

10. Aging Biomarkers – disease onset, progression, and severity
Functional indicators – strength, balance
Cognitive indicators – memory, processing speed, execution
ALSO – senior’s personal perspective

11. 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

12. Food Insecurity and Inadequate Nutrition Contribute to the following:
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
Why are the last few slides important—because lack of nutrition causes a myriad of problems---many listed on this slide.
Muscle loss causes falls, loss of ADLs and don’t forget swallowing can be compromised since this all relates to muscle strength
Low vitamin B levels can lead to memory loss and according to a Finnish study low intakes of folate and vitamin B12 increase the risk of depressive symptoms. Overall lack of adequate calories leads to fatigue. The link between poor nutritional status and impaired immune function is well established plus lack of nutrition may lead to older adults developing metabolic syndrome and other serious conditions
Adequate nutrition is even more important for older adults who may lack reserves.

13. Food Secure vs. Food Insecure Seniors
Significantly lower intakes of:
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

14. Senior Nutrition Services
Area Agencies on Aging
- Congregate meals
-Home delivered meals
Food Banks, Food Pantries

15. SNAP – WIN program
Double up Bucks
Farmer Market Nutrition Vouchers
Iowa Department on Aging, LifeLong Links

16. 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

17. 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.

18. Iowa Home-Delivered Meal Program Outcomes
SERVICE TYPE
NUMBER OF CONSUMERS(SFY2015)
All
50,777
Nutrition Program
37,283
Home Delivered Meal Participants
11,669
68% 75yrs+
38% 85+
66% female
58% at or below federal
poverty
3% minority/ethnicity
58% at high nutrition risk
(These percentages are higher for HD than for Cong participants)

19. 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

20. Fresh Conversations Nutrition Education Program for Seniors in Partnership with Area Agencies on Aging

21. 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

22. Lifelong Links Statewide Resource to Locate Senior Services

23. Questions and Contact Information
Iowa Department on Aging
Carlene Russell, MS RDN LDN
Iowa Department of Public Health
Doris Montgomery, MS RDN LDN