helping you live healthy according to
feeding America senior citizens are the
fastest growing food insecure population
in the United States that means they do
not do not have reliable access to
affordable and nutritious food right now
listen this five million Americans
senior citizens are facing hunger
joining me now to explain the unique
challenges that senior citizens in
particular face when it comes to food
insecurity is dr. Christine Caulfield
she's CEO of LSF health systems good
morning good to see you again thank you
for being here so is this an issue of
you know older Americans who don't have
a relative they're living alone and they
just can't get to a grocery store
because of transportation problems you
know that is one scenario but we have to
remember that most seniors aged 65 and
older their average Social Security
benefits are $1200 a month so that does
not go far in in today's society in
today's financial world and often times
they have mobility issues as well
they're alone they're isolated and very
proud and oftentimes our seniors just
won't ask for the help that they need so
for some reason it's embarrassing to
them exactly yes it is it.you know one
interesting fact is that only two of
five seniors that qualify for food
assistance actually receive it so it's
it's really an issue that we all as a
community need to be very focused on and
and it makes you wonder also because
when we think of snap we very frequently
think of maybe you know young families
with children who just are out of work
but the reality is also you know you
have to fill out some paperwork and
maybe that can be daunting online access
as well for senior citizens absolutely
and you know seniors age 65 and older
40% have at least one disability might
be poor eyesight could be mobility
issues lack of transportation that's
complicating their ability to get out
and get the benefits that they so
desperately need
and deserve and we have to also remember
you mentioned disabilities but you know
medical costs also were seeing an
increase in prescription drug costs as
well so it's just that the dollar just
can't stretch enough to fill the
refrigerator precisely
and many times unfortunately what we see
at Ellis of health systems as our
seniors are having to choose between
purchasing food and purchasing their
desperately needed medications like
insulin and other vital medications that
keep them going so it is a real hidden
crisis if you will hidden hunger hidden
crisis and it's interesting because I
think the other part of this is one it's
having access to food but also having
access to nutritional food there are you
know there are pockets I know we have
one in Mayport in Atlantic Beach where
there is just not a grocery store that's
close enough for walking distance or
even just maybe taking a taxi that can
get you there for an affordable amount
of money to get those you know the
produce and the healthy things for
senior citizens to eat you're so right
and food is medicine and we're seeing
that more and more poor nutrition equals
poor health and so our seniors that
aren't getting the nutrition that they
need are really going to suffer even
more health conditions than they perhaps
already are experiencing so are there
warning signs that we can look for you
know among our neighbors among maybe
even our distant relatives who we don't
live close to and don't see on a daily
basis yes I would say that that one key
sign that we all need to be aware of is
isolation
our seniors our neighbors that don't
have family around that don't seem to
have any friends that are isolating in
their homes that would be a red flag
that is this senior receiving proper
nutrition are they able to get out to
access the food that they need the
benefits that they may be qualified to
receive so knock on the door
be a good neighbor look out for your
neighbors and ask questions and so on
we're so busy and we get busy and we
forget to maybe be a better neighbor
than we could be right indeed doctor
thank you so much great great points LSF
health systems by the way works with
several partner organizations that can
provide help for seniors living
in poverty or or on the edge of poverty
so if you have any concerns about
something you maybe knowing your
neighborhood you can call their access
to care line the numbers eight seven
seven two two nine nine zero nine eight
we are going to post that phone number
along with this entire interview on our
website later this morning news for
Jack's comm just look under the live
healthy section