Perceptions of the Right to Food Among Adults Aged 60 Years and Older

ABSTRACT

This study explores perceptions of the right to food and issues around food assistance and access among older adults. We conducted 20 semi-structured interviews with adults aged 60+ in Iowa, half of whom were food insecure. Most respondents expressed the right to food concerns freedom of choice rather than physical and financial access. The respondents said poor food access was due to improper choices or not accessing food assistance. While respondents believed food insecurity was morally wrong, they also believed current food assistance services are sufficient. These results have important implications for understanding how older adults think about food access.

KEYWORDS:

• Food Insecurity
• Human rights
• Older adults
• Qualitative research

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the University of Iowa College of Public Health 2023 under the Advancing Graduate Student Success Award. The first author is supported by Award Number T32DK083250 from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official view of the NIDDK or National Institutes of Health.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The first author was supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases [T32DK083250]; The work was supported by the University of Iowa College of Public Health [Advancing Graduate Student Success Award]