NASHVILLE, Tenn. – En los Estados Unidos más de seis millones de adultos mayores enfrentan la amenaza del hambre todos los días. Muchos no hacen todas las comidas o compran alimento de baja calidad para gastar menos. Ante este aumento del hambre en el país, la AARP hace equipo con el legendario piloto de carreras Jeff Gordon en la "Drive to End Hunger" (Carrera Contra el Hambre) que tendrá lugar este 27 de agosto en la pista Bristol Motor Speedway.

Al iniciar la recesión, un sexto de los tennesseés se enfrentan a la amenaza del hambre. De ellos, veinte por ciento tienen 45 años de edad, o más, y la AARP Tennessee se mantiene firme en su esfuerzo por llamar la atención sobre este problema creciente. Tara Shaver, directoria de Community Outreach (Enlace Comunitario) de esta organización, dice que el estado está entre los primeros en la lista de los que tienen demasiados habitantes con insuficiencia alimentaria.

"Tennessee ocupa el cuarto lugar entre los 15 primeros estados con problemas alimentarios. El año pasado Memphis fue nombrada la capital nacional del hambre y sigue entre los 5 primeros lugares."

La Drive to End Hunger (Carrera Contra el Hambre) comienza este lunes a lo largo del estado. Por cada boleto comprado, la AARP ofrece paquetes especiales de boletos a los fanáticos de la velocidad. Los detalles pueden consultarse en el sitio de la AARP Tennessee: .

Desde 2007, el número de personas atendidas por la Second Harvest of Northeast Tennessee (Segunda Cosecha de Tennessee Noreste) ha crecido 47 por ciento. Shaver dice que a nivel nacional este aumento es más elevado en adultos mayores.

"Ha habido un 115 por ciento de aumento en la cantidad de personas mayores que enfrentan el hambre. Ha sido un problema que hace que mucha gente batalle. Tal vez tus vecinos, gente cercana o tus familiares tengan este problema y tú ni siquiera lo sabes."

Aunque la Drive to End Hunger (Carrera Contra el Hambre) está todavía a semanas de distancia, Shaver añade que la AARP trabaja con voluntarios y empresas a nivel local, organizando varios eventos para el 27 de agosto, día de la carrera en Bristol.

"Participaremos en una exhibición de autos en el área de Tri-Cities, donde aceptaremos donaciones a través de la Campaña Food City Food and Funds."

Usted puede hacer un donativo de 10 dólares a esta causa enviando un mensaje de texto con la palabra "HUNGER" al 50555 desde su teléfono móvil. Si prefiere hacerlo en línea, visite la página www.drivetoendhunger.com>.

Shaver agrega que cada 10 dólares de donativo se traducen en aproximadamente 40 dólares de comidas para los hambrientos.

Más información sobre AARP Tennessee en la página 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."

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.

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.