At this very moment, someone you know or love may be at risk for malnutrition.
Senior Hunger…It’s Tough to Swallow
The facts on senior hunger in America are alarming:
- Senior hunger is a monumental problem. Today in America 1 in 9 seniors is facing the threat of hunger. That’s more than 6 million women and men!
- Hunger is neither confined to one age group among seniors, nor one ethnic or racial or economic group, nor one geographic location. It is national in scope and incidence.
- Most seniors who are “food insecure” lack the resources to access or prepare food due to lack of transportation, functional limitations or health problems.
- Seniors who are hungry or at risk of hunger are significantly more likely to be in poor or fair health. They are more likely to be malnourished due to lower intakes of major nutrients.
- Seniors living alone are twice as likely to experience hunger compared to married seniors. For them, Meals On Wheels volunteers provide not only a lifesaving meal, but also a caring visit to help ward off the very real problem of loneliness.
- The gas crisis and skyrocketing food costs have had a devastating impact on Meals On Wheels programs and the seniors they serve across the country.
- Hungry seniors depend on caring people like you to help provide them with their next meal.
The information above is from research done by the Meals On Wheels Association of America.
