Low-Income/Poverty
Nutrition Assistance for Older Americans
Fact Sheet
Enid Kassner, AARP Public Policy Institute
April 2003
Table of Contents:
- Introduction
- Food Stamp Program
- Congregate/Home-Delivered Meals
- Commodity Supplemental Food Program
- Child and Adult Care Food Program
- The Emergency Food Assistance Program
- Conclusion
Introduction
The following federal programs provide nutrition assistance to older Americans: the Food Stamp Program, Congregate Meals, Home-Delivered Meals, the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).
Older persons face special obstacles in maintaining an optimal diet. As individuals age, their caloric needs decline, but their need for nutrients does not. Therefore, older persons must consume foods that are nutrient-rich. Life changes such as loss of a spouse can reduce appetite, as can diminished sense of taste or smell. Frailty can make it difficult to prepare meals, medical conditions can necessitate special dietary restrictions, and lack of income can compound all these problems by making nutritious foods hard to afford.
Food Stamp Program
Food stamps are the primary form of federal food assistance for low-income Americans of all ages. Expenditures for the Food Stamp Program totaled $20.5 billion in fiscal year 2002.
- In 2000, 21 percent of all households receiving food stamps included at least one person over the age of 60. About 1.5 million older persons—80 percent of whom lived alone—received food stamps.
- In order to be eligible, an older household must have monthly income below the federal poverty guideline ($739 for one person; $995 for a couple in 2003) after taking all allowable deductions. Deductions include high shelter costs, medical expenses, dependent care costs, and a "standard" deduction. In addition, older households may have no more than $3,000 in countable assets.
- In 2000, the average monthly income, after deductions, of older households receiving food stamps was $356; average countable assets were $275.
- The average monthly benefit in 2000 was $44 for a single older person and $59 per elderly household.
Congregate/Home-Delivered Meals
The Older Americans Act (OAA) funds two nutrition programs designed to provide meals for older persons. These meals must provide one-third of the daily recommended dietary allowances. There is no income restriction for recipients, but service providers must target meals to persons most in need. Funding limitations restrict the number of persons who can receive meals.
The Congregate Meals Program was designed to combat both poor nutrition and social isolation among older persons. These meals are served in group settings such as senior centers or churches. Meals are often coordinated with other social services such as transportation or health screenings. In 2000, 116 million meals were served to 1.7 million persons. Congress appropriated $492 million for this program in 2002.
The Home-Delivered Meals Program assists people who are homebound. Designed to help prevent unnecessary institutionalization, this program helps the frail elderly maintain independence and avoid social isolation. In 2000, nearly 144 million meals were delivered to more than 955,000 persons. Congress appropriated $223 million for this program in 2002.
|
Federal Spending on Nutrition Programs
That Assist the Elderly, 2002 |
|
| Food Stamps | $20.5 billion |
| OAA | $715 million |
| CSFP | $93 million |
| CACFP | $1.8 billion |
| TEFAP | $150 million |
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture and OAA, 2002
Commodity Supplemental Food Program
The CSFP provides a monthly food package to low-income elderly persons, as well as certain pregnant women, infants, and young children. The food package is designed to be well-balanced and highly nutritious. Funding for the program is limited, and states must apply to participate. Participating states decide which groups they will serve. Originally the program was targeted principally to pregnant women and children, but in most states this function has been replaced by the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children. Most states now use the CSFP to serve older persons.
- In 2002, the CSFP served 427,400 individuals, of whom 352,200 were elderly.
- In 2002, Congress appropriated $93 million for the CSFP, which was distributed to the 30 participating states.
- Elderly participants must have incomes below 130 percent of the federal poverty guideline.
- Legislative proposals to increase the income eligibility level would allow the program to serve nutritionally at risk older persons who are unable to qualify for food stamps.
Child and Adult Care Food Program
The CACFP subsidizes the cost of meals served in qualified day care settings. The program was initially available only to child care centers, but in 1987 Congress made adult day care centers eligible to participate. Currently about 3 percent of participants are seniors. The amount of reimbursement varies with the income level of the recipient and the types of meals served.
- More than 3,500 adult day centers currently operate in the United States, caring for 150,000 older adults each day.
- The CACFP can help subsidize the rapidly growing service of adult day care and make it more affordable for consumers.
- Congress appropriated $1.8 billion for the CACFP in 2002, and the program served some 74,000 individuals in adult day care centers.
The Emergency Food Assistance Program
Originally designed as a temporary program to reduce surplus agricultural commodities, TEFAP has been extended by Congress to help address the continuing need for food aid. Commodities are distributed to needy individuals, soup kitchens, and food banks. In 2002, Congress appropriated $150 million to purchase, process, and distribute commodities.
Conclusion
Despite the existence of these federal programs, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that some 1.4 million households with elderly members experience "food insecurity." This term pertains to persons who have limited or uncertain access to safe, nutritionally adequate food. Food insecurity can lead to malnutrition, which has numerous adverse health consequences.
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Written by Enid Kassner, AARP Public Policy Institute
April 2003 Internet Edition
©2003 AARP
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