4 percent of elderly Iowans at risk of hunger

DES MOINES – Nearly 4 percent of older Iowans are at risk of going hungry, according to a report issued by the Meals on Wheels Association of America.

That ranked Iowa 41st nationally, the association reported, with 3.95 percent of Iowa's 583,000 citizens over age 60 considered to be among America's most hungry citizens. Mississippi ranked first with the most seniors at risk of hunger while North Dakota had the fewest.

John McCalley, director of the state Department on Aging said the report documents the reality of that hunger is a significant concern for older Americans. 

Elderly Iowans experiencing food insecurity are more likely to be in poor health and have limitations in activities of daily living which could lead to a loss of their independence, McCalley said. Inadequate nutrition also can have an impact on the quality of life of older Iowans.

“Considering the fact that Iowa is in the ‘bread basket' of the nation, it is surprising to see that nearly 4 percent of our older citizens face hunger issues,” he said. “Clearly, in the midst of these tough economic times, we still have a lot of work to do to end hunger here in Iowa.”

To access the entire 2008 MOWAA report on senior hunger titled “The Causes, Consequences, and Future of Senior Hunger in America”, click on:

http://216.235.203.153/Document.Doc?id=13' to access the latest study titled “Senior hunger in the United States: Differences Across States and Rural and Urban Areas”, click on:

http://www.mowaa.org/hungerbystate.