Nationally, the rate of seniors who experience food insecurity -- a term for those who can't maintain a nutritious diet -- has doubled since 2001, according to the National Council on Aging. The issue is of particular concern in Colorado, which has one of the fastest-growing populations of people 65 and older. By 2030, that population will more than double.
Kathy Underhill, of Denver-based Hunger Free Colorado and Allyson Sawtell, of Denver Inner City Parish, spoke with with Ryan Warner about the issue. Click on the audio link above to hear the conversation.
Why elder adults come to Denver Inner City Parish
How being hungry as an elder adult affects mobility
Underhill: There's a study out of the University of Kentucky that shows that a food insecure or hungry 64-year-old has the active daily limitation of a 78-year-old. [...]
So if we're waiting until they're in crisis or they show up in the emergency room, or get on the radar of a social worker [...] they're really going to be compromised. For me, this is a health issue, this is an economic issue in terms of cost-containment, and frankly, it's a moral issue.
What the future holds for hunger and Colorado's older population
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