Food Insecurity among Seniors James P. Ziliak, Ph.D. Director, - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Food Insecurity among Seniors

James P. Ziliak, Ph.D. Director, Center for Poverty Research Gatton Endowed Chair in Microeconomics University of Kentucky October 30, 2019 Presentation to the KY Senior Hunger Summit

Acknowledgement

• The research reported herein was conducted jointly with Dr. Craig

Gundersen at the University of Illinois

• We are grateful to Enid Borden and Peggy Ingraham of the National

Foundation to End Senior Hunger for sparking this research agenda, and for their many years of financial support.

• We have also benefitted from the support of Feeding America, AARP

Foundation, Merck Foundation, and Meals On Wheels Research Foundation

The Measurement of Food Insecurity in the United States

Current Population Survey

• December Supplements from 2001 to 2017
• Supplements used to establish the official estimates
• f food insecurity in the United States
• Nationally representative (with weights) sample of

50,000 households

• Full set of questions from Household Food

Security Module

• Define a senior as age 60 and older

Definitions of Categories of Food Insecurity

• A household is placed into food security categories based on

responses to 18 questions on the Household Food Security Module

• Examples of questions
• “I worried whether our food would run out before we got money to

buy more”

• “Did you or the other adults in your household ever cut the size of

your meals or skip meals because there wasn’t enough money for food”

• “Were you ever hungry but did not eat because you couldn’t afford

enough food”

• “In the last 12 months did you or other adults in your household ever

not eat for a whole day because there wasn’t enough money for food?”

Definitions of Food Insecurity Categories

• Marginally food insecure
• 1 or more affirmative responses
• Food insecure
• 3 or more affirmative responses
• Very Low Food Secure
• 8 or more affirmative responses (households with children)
• 6 or more affirmative responses (households without children)

Extent of Senior Hunger

2 4 6 8

Number in Millions

2 4 6 8 10

Percent

2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 Year

Percent FI Percent VLFS Number FI Number VLFS

Figure 1. Trends in Food Insecurity among Senior Americans

Correlates of Senior Hunger

Food Insecurity Risk Declines with Income

5 10 15 20 25 30

Percent

2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 Year

Income < FPL 100%FPL < Income < 200%FPL Income >= 200% FPL

• A. Food Insecurity

5 10 15 20 25 30

Percent

2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 Year

Income < FPL 100%FPL < Income < 200%FPL Income >= 200% FPL

• B. Very Low Food Security

Food Insecurity and Very Low Food Security of Seniors by Poverty Status

Food Insecurity Risk Declines with Age

3 6 9 12

Percent

2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 Year

6069 years old 7079 years old 80+ years old

• A. Food Insecurity

3 6 9 12

Percent

2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 Year

6069 years old 7079 years old 80+ years old

• B. Very Low Food Security

Food Insecurity and Very Low Food Security of Seniors by Age

Food Insecurity Risk Rises Among Minorities

4 8 12 16

Percent

2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 Year

White Nonwhite

• A. Food Insecurity

4 8 12 16

Percent

2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 Year

White Nonwhite

• B. Very Low Food Security

Food Insecurity and Very Low Food Security of Seniors by Race

Additional Risk Factors

• Controlling for age, income, and race we also find that risk of food insecurity

increases among those

• Without a high school degree
• Who are divorced or separated
• Who have a grandchild living in the household
• Who are disabled

Bringing it Home

Food Insecurity in Kentucky among Seniors

• In a typical year food insecurity among seniors in Kentucky exceeds the national

average

• Very low food security in Kentucky is comparable to national average in recent

years

2 4 6 8 10 12 Percent 2001 2005 2009 2013 2017 Year Food Insecurity Very Low Food Insecurity

3year moving averages; 2year averages in first and last year

Food Insecurity among Seniors in Kentucky

Uncertain Headwinds: Kentucky has highest food insecurity rate among 50-59 year

• lds

4 8 12 16 20 Percent 2001 2005 2009 2013 2017 Year Food Insecurity Very Low Food Insecurity

3year moving averages; 2year averages in first and last year

Food Insecurity among 5059 year olds in Kentucky

Health Consequences of Food Insecurity

5.3

• 8
• 21.8
• 11.5

60 21.8 5.9

• 1.1

40 21.8 53 1.7 36.9 14.5 4.9

• 10

51.8 Diabetic Excellent Excellent or Very Good Excellent, Very Good, or Good Depression ADL Limitations High Blood Pressure High Cholesterol Congestive Heart Failure Coronary Heart Disease Heart Attack Cancer Chest Pain Gum Disease Gum Health Psoriasis Asthma

Regression-Adjusted Estimates of the Effect of Food Insecurity on Health Outcomes of Seniors 60+ (Percent Change Relative to Average of Food Secure Seniors)

Percentages in red are statistically significant at the 1% level; in green at the 5% level; and in yellow at the 10% level

What Can be Done?

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Encourage participation
• Over 60
• Between 40 and 60
• Address barriers for grandparents raising grandchildren
• Entering program
• Benefit levels
• Reevaluate minimum benefit levels
• Reach out to the socially isolated
• Help those with mobility issues
• Recognize importance of informal food assistance programs
• For those receiving SNAP
• For those ineligible for SNAP

Thank you!

jziliak@uky.edu www.ukcpr.org

References

• Gundersen, C. and J. Ziliak. 2014. Food Insecurity and Health among

Senior Americans.

• Ziliak, J. and C. Gundersen. 2019. The State of Senior Hunger in

America 2017: An Annual Report.

• Ziliak, J., C. Gundersen, and M. Haist. 2008. The Causes,

Consequences, and Future of Senior Hunger in America.