Food insecurity is a nicer way of saying you are going hungry!
Like Mother Hubbard our cupboards are bare!
And as we grow older, more of us are falling into this category of insecurity.
Age groups rarely looked at by any measure regarding food needs are now included – and it seems that almost 5 million of those between 50 and 59 [the younger "boomers"] are at risk of hunger. And that figure was from a few years ago.
How many more will be hungry each year?
It turns out that more than 9% of older Americans were at risk of hunger in 2009 – a whopping 79 % increase since 2001.
The economy is bad and it is impacting not only the potential of losing one's home, but of being hungry as well.
Do we not care about our elders anymore? Are we living longer only to lose our homes and go hungry?
There are boomers and older who must make choices each month – rent or food? Food or medications?
Yes there are programs that can help but they too are low on funds and supplies. If everyone is poor and in need of food – just who will supply the food banks?
If congress thinks cutting food and service programs for the elderly and poor is a good way to save money – how will older people and poor people survive?
I'm saddened by where we as a country have gone.
Comments? Thoughts? Thank you.
I am a certified nursing assistant serving as a companion to elders in their homes. I think hunger and lack of nutritious food are serious issues for many older people. Feed Our Vets [dot] org points out that some seniors don’t apply for food stamps because they don’t think they would be eligible, or the idea seems demeaning (something I can relate to), or they’re getting help from family or friends now and the demands of coping with day-to-day living take precedence over planning for the future when that help might not be available.
This is why I often say that I am against giving so much foreign aid. Yes, we are a global economy and community, but until we take care of our own, how can we go about trying to save the rest of the World? Billions upon billions of dollars go to other countries each year, yet we have homeless starving people right in our own neighborhoods. I find that atrocious.
Thanks for the comment. Foreign aid is such a small part of our national budget – military and wars are the biggest. There was a tweet recently that said something like the USA should invade the USA and win hearts and minds of the people by providing food, shelter and infrastructure. Maybe we should forgo that aid until all here are fed, housed and have good health care?
I am SO glad that you are talking about this! My husband and I are in our late 40s and disabled. We face these choices on a daily basis. With so many people losing jobs, the strain on the systems that were set up for food crises is strained to the breaking point. And , yes, there’s foodstamps (we get $16 per month), but in many cases it just isn’t enough. This is why I am urging the churches to do their job and help to take care of those who truly can’t! God Bless! (sorry for the rant)
No need to apologize – rant away! I’m sorry to hear of your circumstances but non-profits, like churches, are seeing their own incomes go down as well and they can’t do as much. Few have extra money to donate to worthy causes and it hurts everyone! That’s why occupy wall street spread so fast across the country and the globe! People need decent paying jobs so they have money to spend and to donate.
Lynn