2018 ASHS Annual Conference

Food insecurity occurs throughout the U.S. in varying degrees of severity depending upon the state. While people from all stages of the human lifespan are vulnerable, senior citizens are often overlooked and thus referred to as the “hidden hungry”. Nearly 10% of seniors face hunger on a daily basis. Experts agree that senior citizens are the fastest-growing food insecure population in the country. Because of ever-improving health care and other factors, the number of U.S. citizens age 65 or older will double by 2050. Reasons for and solutions toward mitigating food insecurity in the elderly will be discussed.