NEW YORK - It's a nationwide problem. The number of older adults facing hunger has increased by 79 percent since 2009, according to AARP. Local senior advocates say Superstorm Sandy made a bad situation even worse for older New Yorkers.
Beth Finkel, senior manager of community outreach, AARP-NY, says statewide, nearly one in four seniors over 60 who are living at home is considered nutritionally at risk. Help is often available through the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program known as SNAP, she says, but warns that too many older adults are missing out.
"We are finding that more older adults are experiencing hunger, or are at risk for hunger, since the recession began. Then we had that terrible storm, and that has made it even worse for folks."
Sandy-related hunger is bad enough in parts of New Jersey that Gov. Chris Christie recently authorized Disaster SNAP relief for storm victims of all ages in 16 of that state's hardest-hit counties.
As part of the AARP Foundation Drive to End Hunger, Finkel's group is working hard to get the word out to older New Yorkers that federal food assistance is available, she says.
"Nearly 500,000 New Yorkers 60-plus are receiving SNAP benefits, and it's allowing them to maintain good health and nutrition. Yet, according to Census data, an additional 500,000 older New Yorkers could potentially be eligible."
AARP sponsored a Hunger Summit earlier this month in Albany, which Finkel says helped draw attention to the fact that New York has worked hard to eliminate roadblocks to food assistance, such as changing the program's name from food stamps to SNAP. She also notes AARP has helped raise nearly $1.3 million for Sandy relief and is currently matching donations dollar-for-dollar. More than $300,000 will go to relief in New York State.
More information about Hurricane Sandy relief is available at www.aarp.org. Hunger statistics and more information about the hunger drive are at http://endseniorhunger.aarp.org.
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Oregon is working to address the state's digital divide with hundreds of millions of dollars in funding.
Infrastructure presents the largest challenges for connecting people in Oregon to high-speed broadband internet.
Nick Batz, director of the Oregon Broadband Office, said there are more than 170,000 residencies in the state with no or slow internet access.
"Our goal through the broadband office and with all our stakeholders throughout Oregon is to provide access to all 112,000 unserved locations and as many of the 60,000 underserved locations as we can," Batz explained.
The state has received federal funding from a variety of sources, including nearly $690 million from the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program, and more than $150 million from the Capital Projects Fund approved in the American Rescue Plan Act from 2021.
Oregon's Digital Equity Plan has also been approved and along with it, nearly $10 million in funding.
Bandana Shrestha, state director of AARP Oregon, said there was a time when high-speed broadband internet was considered a luxury.
"Now, it's such a big necessity for everyone, including for older adults," Shrestha pointed out. "Because we know that if you don't have connectivity, you're not going to be able to see your doctor when you want to. Telemedicine is not going to be possible."
Batz added his office is working to ensure every Oregonian can get on the internet.
"It is an interesting challenge," Batz observed. "Nothing has been done like this in Oregon's history of trying to get internet access to everybody. So, it's going to be quite the challenge and it's absolutely going to require participation from everybody to make this happen."
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Nursing homes across South Dakota will soon receive a boost in support, as part of the most recent legislative session.
Facilities caring for Medicaid recipients are reimbursed by the state for some of the cost. Reimbursement rates have been calculated based on patient needs, occupancy and funds available in the state budget. Last year, the South Dakota Legislature increased the rate from about 75% to 100%.
House Bill 1167 now allows the Medicaid reimbursement rate to be adjusted annually, to keep up with inflation and other changes.
Erik Nelson, advocacy director for AARP South Dakota, is glad lawmakers are giving nursing homes attention.
"We have seen a number of nursing homes close in recent years," Nelson pointed out. "Financial considerations were a factor in that, along with workforce and some other issues."
Since 2019, 15 nursing homes have closed across the state, with six of the remaining 98 on a federal list of facilities not meeting basic standards of care. In addition to a lack of funding, the average staff turnover rate is 54%.
State lawmakers also approved the use of $5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding toward expanding telehealth services in facilities including nursing homes, allowing patients to receive some health care services remotely.
Nelson noted telehealth is one way to supply needed support.
"For not only the residents, but the family caregivers that are supporting their loved ones in the nursing homes," Nelson emphasized. "And of course, the staff of the nursing home that's in the community."
Census data show South Dakota's population is aging and by 2030, one-fifth of residents will be older than 65.
Disclosure: AARP South Dakota contributes to our fund for reporting on Health Issues, Senior Issues. If you would like to help support news in the public interest,
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Meals on Wheels programs could be a powerful tool for addressing the needs of people living with dementia, according to a study from Ohio State University researchers.
The community-based program delivers weekly meals to food-insecure seniors.
Lisa Juckett, assistant professor of occupational therapy at Ohio State University, conducted interviews with caregivers, people living with dementia, and the staff of LifeCare Alliance, the largest Meals on Wheels provider in the state. She said the findings revealed delivery drivers are often a critical source of social interaction and an "extra set of eyes" on homebound individuals.
"That Meals on Wheels driver is then able to perform very brief but important wellness checks and safety checks," Juckett explained. "To make sure that meal is actually being delivered, the door is being answered."
According to Meals on Wheels America, last year more than 90,000 Ohio seniors received over eight million home-delivered meals through the program. More than 80% of people with dementia in the U.S. live at home, and an estimated 60% are unable to eat or prepare food on their own.
States rely on a combination of federal funding, private donations and fundraising agencies to keep local Meals on Wheels programs operating. Juckett added the findings come on the heels of Congress deciding to cut funding for the Older Americans Act, which allocates money to Meals on Wheels programs nationwide.
"Meals on Wheels programs are always on the chopping block, when it comes to federal budgets being adjusted every year," Juckett pointed out. "We need more advocacy efforts to validate or justify the importance of these programs."
According to the group Alzheimer's disease International, more than 55 million people around the world live with dementia, a number expected to double over the next two decades.
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