March is National Nutrition Month -- a nutrition information and education campaign sponsored each year by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

The campaign is designed to focus attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits.

For some older adults, food choices sometimes are not an option, with low-income seniors having to make painful decisions, such as spending money on medications instead of food.

No senior citizen should go hungry in our community, however, hunger among our elderly population is a growing crisis; hunger rates have more than doubled for low-income seniors in the United States in the last few years.

In the U.S., there are over 5 million seniors who grapple with hunger issues, almost 3 million seniors who are at risk of not having enough to eat, and nearly 1 million seniors who go hungry because they cannot afford to buy food. Ongoing hunger and malnutrition can cause chronic diseases that result in expensive hospitalizations and nursing home or other long-term care placements.

Thirty eight percent of seniors dealing with inadequate food and nutrition have incomes below the federal poverty level ($10,890 in 2011).

In addition to the impact of poverty on hunger, several other factors come in to play, such as renting versus homeownership, age, living alone, and raising a grandchild. Studies reveal that households supporting a grandchild are about two-and-a-half

In these challenging economic times, it is no surprise that there are increasing numbers of older Americans who do not have enough to eat. Baby Boomers began turning 65 last year, and those between the ages of 60 to 69 have the highest risk of hunger.

Lack of proper nutrients significantly increases the chances of poor health, which not only diminishes the quality of life, but also increases utilization of health care services, early long-term care placements, and an increased risk of death.

The Area 1 Agency on Aging supports local home-delivered meals programs in Del Norte and Humboldt Counties, serving nearly 300 meals five days per week. Home-delivered meals are taken, often by volunteers, directly to an older adult's residence.

Excerpt from:
GRAY MATTERS: National Nutrition Month