Feeding America, the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization, issued a call in honor of Older Americans Month. More than 1 in 12 older Americans are facing hunger.
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The Baby Boomer generation continues to age at a rapid rate. Every day for the next 15 years, 10,000 people will turn 65, according to the Social Security Administration.
The Feeding America nationwide network of food banks is preparing for an increase in the need for food assistance among older Americans.
This dramatic rise has sparked Feeding America to actively encourage industry partners, federal and local governments, and the general public to speak up to Solve Senior Hunger.
According to a recent Feeding America report, Baby Boomers and Beyond: Facing Hunger After Fifty, many older adults who are food insecure must make tough choices about how to spend their meager dollars.
More than 63 percent of older adult households served by the Feeding America network must sometimes choose between paying for food or paying for medical care or prescriptions.
Sixty percent report having to choose between paying for utilities or paying for food, and 58 percent must choose between food and transportation. It is essential for older adults to have access to adequate amounts of nutritious food because of the unique health challenges they may face.
The Feeding America network provides more than 563 million meals to seniors age 60 and above through special programs including the Senior Grocery Program, Mobile Pantry Program, Senior Cafes, multi-generational meal and food programs, and partner programs that focus on feeding seniors who are homebound.
Feeding America is a nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, the program provides food to more than 46 million people through food pantries and meal programs in communities throughout America. ■
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