The Impact of Food Insecurity on Older Adults

Food insecurity impacts the lives of many older adults living in the United States. The impacts of food insecurity on older adults can include additional health challenges and nutritional deficiencies. The intersectionality of gender, racial, geographical, and age differences, also have a significant impact on how food insecurity is present and affects the lives of older individuals. Although many government-based programs exist that are designed to support individuals facing food insecurity, many older adults utilize additional resources based on their social networks and social support systems. Older adults can benefit from increasing their social capital to develop and maintain social connections that can provide them with more food resources and nutritional variety. This presentation utilizes research from various peer-reviewed sources to describe the significant impacts of food insecurity and the potential resources available to older adults facing food insecurity in the United States