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Seniors, Food Access & Food Insecurity in Philadelphia

Margaret Ernst Project SHINE, February 12, 2012. Seniors, Food Access & Food Insecurity in Philadelphia. Project Background. March for Meals, 2012 Report, “Food, Seniors, and Service”, December 2011 Needs assessment survey Focus groups Senior Hunger Task Force, March – August 2012.

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Seniors, Food Access & Food Insecurity in Philadelphia

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  1. Margaret Ernst Project SHINE, February 12, 2012 Seniors, Food Access & Food Insecurity in Philadelphia

  2. Project Background • March for Meals, 2012 • Report, “Food, Seniors, and Service”, December 2011 • Needs assessment survey • Focus groups • Senior Hunger Task Force, March – August 2012

  3. Aging resources in Philadelphia • Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) • Area Agency on Aging • AARP • Mayor’s Commission on Aging • Services arm • Policy arm • Independent organizations • GenPhilly (PCA) www.genphilly.org

  4. Some stats about food and seniors in Philadelphia….

  5. Say the quality of groceries in their neighborhood is fair or poor. 13% of seniors Source: Public Health Management Corporation Survey, 2010

  6. Are overweight or obese 67% of seniors Source: Public Health Management Corporation Survey, 2010

  7. Are food insecure or marginally food insecure 18% of seniors Source: AARP, 2010

  8. Cannot cook for themselves or cannot cook without help 7% of seniors Source: Public Health Management Corporation Survey, 2010

  9. Language barrier and other survey limitations but the real numbers are likely higher

  10. “I wish transportation was much easier. If you’re on the bus, you can only carry so many groceries. A food cart can’t fit through the aisles.” —Somerset Villa, North Philadelphia Neighborhood Food Access “When it’s snowy, I have more trouble [getting to the grocery store].” -Coffee Cup, Center City “There is nothing [healthy] close by in my neighborhood. I have to walk 6 or 7 blocks.” – Congreso, North Philadelphia “We want more gardens here. There so many empty lots in this neighborhood. People would take advantage of them.” -Congreso, North Philadelphia “There are many corner stores that sell fruits and vegetables near here.” -Congreso, North Philadelphia

  11. SNAP (Food Stamps) “I have diabetes. I can’t eat just any food. Food stamps help very much. It helps me buy healthier food.” -Klein-JCC Russian Speakers Program “If it weren’t for the food stamps, I wouldn’t have enough to pay for my utilities.” -Congreso, North Philadelphia “I didn’t need [food stamps] until after I stopped working. But now I don’t know what I would do if I did not get them. No food stamps, no money for food.” -Nationalities Services Center, North Philadelphia “Food stamps help some, but not for everything.” -Casa Caribe, North Philadelphia “You can do everything right and they’ll still say it’s [SNAP application] wrong.” -Somerset Villa, North Philadelphia “I have very low level of iron. So having food stamps, it helps me buy the right food. I wish America was growing and flourishing so old people would have enough food.” [Klein] -Klein-JCC Russian Speakers Program

  12. Food Programs “We [Chinese seniors] are accustomed to American food. From that point of view, we like the nutritious food, like the salads [served at senior centers]. But sometimes I want Chinese food. I like traditional food.” -Coffee Cup, Center City “There used to be a program where they would bring vegetables [to the apartments]. We would all benefit if that came back.” -Casa Caribe, North Philadelphia I tried for a few months getting the frozen meals but it started a fire in the microwave. They deliver this and they think everyone knows how to cook it. But older people especially can’t do it.” -Klein-JCC Russian Speakers Program, Northeast Philadelphia “I can go to get these boxes [from pantries and other distribution points], but how do I carry it back?” -Congreso, North Philadephia “We love the farmer’s market vouchers but there are not enough places to use them around here.” -Congreso, North Philadelphia

  13. Home-Delivered Meals • PCA • Volunteer-supported • SNAP (Food Stamps) • Senior Box (CFSP) program • Farmer’s Market Vouchers/Philly Food Bucks • Pantries, Soup Kitchens, etc Food programs & Resources

  14. Recommendation: Increase cultural competency of food programs and home-delivered meals.

  15. Recommendation: Integrate senior perspectives into city-wide action and empower them to participate in solutions.

  16. Recommendation: Empower seniors to participate in solutions.

  17. Senior Hunger Task Force (MCOA) Goal: improve information sharing about senior hunger/food resources What’s next?

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