By Fengsong Gao, MSW Candidate 2009 at GWB School of Social Work, Washington University - Recently, Meals on Wheels Association of America Foundation (MOWAAF) reported that hunger is threatening more than 5 million older Americans or 11.4 percent of the total older adult population in the U.S.  Worst of all, it is estimated that this figure will reach 9.5 million by 2025. MOWAAF’s study defined “hunger” as “food insecurity”, that is, “limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways.” Furthermore, Missouri Hunger Atlas indicates that 7% of older Missourians experience food insecurity.  As a result of food insecurity, older adults are at higher risk of poorer health.

To address food insecurity among older adult population, there exist various federal nutrition assistance programs. According to the fact sheet “Nutrition Assistance for Older Americans” released by AARP in October 2008, these programs consist of Food Stamp Program(FSP), Congregate/ Home-Delivered Meals, Commodity Supplemental Food Program, Emergency Food Assistance Program, and Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP).  However, these programs are underutilized by older adults. Fuller- Thomson and Redmond, in their article “Falling through the Social Safety Net: Food Stamp Use and Nonuse among Older Impoverished Americans”, identify the obstacles faced by older adults who are eligible for FSP, including a lack of knowledge regarding eligibility standards, program benefits, policy, and application process; barriers to accessing welfare services; a strong worry about stigma; and a misconception that the services are not helpful. 

In order to increase FSP participation, Missouri Department of Social Service offers on-line FSP information (http://www.dss.mo.gov/fsd/fstamp/), including prescreening tool, eligibility, application process, and FSP benefits. Additionally, information concerning Congregate/ Home-Delivered Meals can be found in the website of Mid-America Regional Council Department of Aging Service (http://www.marc.org/aging/hdm.htm). In 2004, due to funding cuts, Missouri discontinued Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP). In 2009, the Hunger Task Force in Missouri Association for Social Welfare will advocate the implementation of SFMNP. Meanwhile, the Task Force will urge passage of a Supplemental Food Stamps for Seniors bill, which aims at raising the minimum food stamp benefit for older Missourians from $10 per month to $30 per month. The expenses generated by the $20 increase would be provided by state funding. 

Given the lower program participation rates, it is of vital importance to close the gap between the program providers and older adults threatened by food insecurity. Food Research and Action Center proposes innovative outreach programs which team up community agencies, for instance, faith-based organizations and health organizations, to increase access to nutrition assistance programs.  The local food systems should enhance the collaboration with such private sector food assistance program as food pantries. Meanwhile, mobile and satellite food stamp offices should be established in low-income communities. For stigma reduction, the exterior of the food stamp offices should be different from welfare sites. Multilingual service provision and home visits by FSP workers to the functionally impaired older adults will help in increasing service utilization. In addition, nutrition education should be available to older adults to change their misconception on nutrition assistance programs, and teach them how to access services.