Prevalence and Correlates of Food Insecurity Among Older Adults in the United States

ABSTRACT

This study analyzed the 2021 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) to assess food insecurity among adults aged 65 and older. Among 8,877 older adults, 4 percent (N=287) reported low or very low food security levels. Those who identified as Black or African American and Hispanic or Latino were more likely to experience food insecurity compared to White individuals. The study found that merely surpassing the poverty threshold might not be sufficient to protect against food insecurity. It also underscored socioemotional support’s protective role in older adults’ food security. Social workers must recognize various factors influencing food security among older adults.

KEYWORDS:

• Food insecurity
• older adults
• social and economic factors

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.