Did you know that over 9 million people fifty and over are at risk of hunger every day? These people are supposed to be "adults." They are supposed to have jobs, and families, and be able to take care of themselves. However, this is not always the case. In my opinion, this is the forgotten age category. People are often concerned about children and seniors, but the "adults" are often over looked.
For an alarming number of Americans over fifty, the worst downturn since the Great Depression and a slow recovery have made any opportunity feel distant, if not totally unattainable. This group faces choices and pressures unlike those of any other age group, choices no one could have prepared for. Those nearly nine million people over fifty who struggle every day to put food on the table need a voice and an advocate now more than ever.
Hunger and its serious health consequences (e.g., diabetes, depression, even malnutrition) are one of the most formidable public health challenges facing the United States today, particularly among older people. In eight years, from 2001 – 2009, the number of Americans age 50+ threatened by hunger soared by 79%, to nearly nine million people.
The recession has made the hunger problem much worse, particularly among older people 50-59 who are usually too young for Social Security and Medicare and too old for programs that help families with children. Between 2007 and 2009, the most dramatic increase in food insecurity – 38% -- was among those whose annual incomes were twice the poverty line.
This is the exact age group, the "baby boomers" that politicians are trying to court for their vote. My hope is that after they vote for their elected officials, they are able to see some help and assistance. The government is not the answer to all of life's problems, but it can be a very important resource, sometimes the only resource for someone in need. Elected officials need to see the faces of these people. They need to look beyond politics, beyond statistics, beyond the vote and see the face of a person in need.
There are many local, state and federal programs, both public and private, that help feed people, including Meals on Wheels, Feeding America and the Salvation Army. The largest federal government program is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. (Some states still use its former name, “Food Stamps.”) While more than 7 million older Americans are eligible for SNAP, less than one-third are actually receiving benefits. Among other age groups, two-thirds of SNAP-eligible people are receiving benefits.
Politics offers the perfect venue to make a difference. To help someone in need. My hope is that elected officials do give back and remember that they are in office to represent the people. To make informed choices that will best help their constituents. Furthermore, it can be assumed that the majority of their constituents are over the age of fifty and this age group cannot be forgotten.
