Is America Failing Its Seniors? Report Card Cites Senior Hunger Epidemic

The number of seniors facing hunger in America nearly doubled to more than 8 million over the past decade, resulting in failing grades on the Senior Hunger Report Card, issued this month by the Meals On Wheels Research Foundation.

The report card examined the nation's progress in eight categories and assigned corresponding grades in each.

A grade of "F" was given in overall performance, as 8.3 million seniors faced the threat of hunger in 2010. That reflected a 78 percent increase over 2001, and a 34 percent increase since the start of the current economic recession in 2007.

The report card also gave an "F" in the areas of Economics, Women's Studies, and Ethics.

Grades were based on research and data published in “Senior Hunger in America 2010: An Annual Report,” which was prepared by Dr. James P. Ziliak of the Center for Poverty Research at the University of Kentucky and Dr. Craig Gundersen of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Economics at the University of Illinois.

The report estimated the threat of senior hunger on a state-by-state basis. Ohio has the 14th highest threat, with 15.78 percent of its seniors at risk.

“There is no question that we are failing our seniors, some of the nation’s most vulnerable citizens,” said Enid  Borden, CEO of the foundation and president of the Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA). “The numbers spell out our failure with clarity, and at the same time they call us to action. No one in this, the richest nation on Earth, should face the threat of hunger, no one. And seniors, who have little power to change their circumstances, deserve our special attention.”

MOWAA and its member agencies, including Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties, have established a goal of eliminating senior hunger in America by 2020. For information on how to help, call us at 330-832-7220.