Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon Presents

Partners for a Hunger-Free OregonPresents Helping Seniors and Disabled

Grasp and understand the barriers seniors and disabled face in using SNAP Providing a senior or disabled person with a SNAP EBT card is only the first step in reducing hunger. Barriers that many of them experience each day are often overlooked. Learn more about these issues, and then in small groups help us develop new strategies in ongoing outreach

For Many Seniors Times are Tough! Most seniors planned for their later years by saving money and relying on social security and retirement funds to support them. But things changed – and now many seniors are finding themselves in a financial pinch.

Do you know people who have Skipped a meal because there was not enough food? Cut the size of their meals? Made one meal stretch for 3 meals? Eaten food that was unsafe because they did not have food for later? This is Hunger! Also called Very Low Food Security

Question? Could a person be overweight and food insecure? YES!

How? Often fast food and pre-packed food is less expensive than fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grain products. They eat “filler food.” Example: ramen noodles are inexpensive and filling but have very little nutritional value. People who are hungry can not always afford food that is nutritious.

Fat Frail A term used for seniors who may be overweight but are actually undernourished.

If undernourished a person might: Be diagnosed as having dementia or early Alzheimer’s Disease Have dizzy spells Fall and fracture a bone, ending up in a wheelchair or a nursing home. The question is – what can be done?

Balanced Diet The 2011 USDA “My Plate” states that a healthy person should eat wholegrain products,

Balanced Diet Eat and drink wholesome dairy products,

Balanced Diet • Eat healthy proteins such as: • Fish/Meat • Eggs • Legumes • Whole Grains • Nuts and Seeds • Soy

Balanced Diet Eat lots of fresh fruits and a variety of vegetables.

New evidence states lack of nutrition may cause: • Muscle loss • Memory loss • Fatigue • Depression • Weak immune system • Digestive, lung and heart problems • And other serious ailments

But Healthy Food Can Be Expensive What can a person do?

SNAP! Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

Did you know? In Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program the important word is Supplemental? Why? SNAP only supplements a receivers food purchasing dollar. In other words, it is not expected that what is received in SNAP dollars will pay for an entire month’s worth of groceries.

However ….. Most recipients of SNAP do try to make whatever they get in benefit dollars last for an entire month. Which means that by the end of the month, many recipients are eating an insubstantial diet or they are resorting to food boxes.

Did you know? Only 1 in 3 eligible seniors actually receives SNAP. Question: Why wouldn’t a senior get help when they need it?

Studies show that many seniors: Did not know they qualified. FACT: The income guideline for most everyone in Oregon is: For a single person the monthly income limit is $1,679 For a two-person household it is $2,268 For a three-person household the limit is $2,857

Providing Seniors and Disabled with a SNAP EBT card may not be enough. Just getting to and from the store can be a challenge.

Some of the barriers that seniors and disabled may face are: • Using a walker, cane or wheel chair • Grocery store is miles away from home causing them to rely on a taxi or bus • Visually or hearing impaired • Speak other language than English • Recently lost a spouse • Homeless • Live in an upstairs apartment without elevator • On a medically restricted diet requiring special foods which may cost more • How do these things affect getting to and from the market?

SNAP Putting Healthy Food Within Reach!

Thank you Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon 503-595-5501 OregonHunger.org

Goal for Today! To allow you a very small glimpse of what it is like to be a senior/disabled and to live on a limited food budget Discuss and strategize ways that we can better serve seniors and people with disabilities

We are going to: • Break into small work groups • Be provided with a scenario of a person who is a senior and/or disabled and on SNAP (Take note of their budget and barriers.) • Plan a grocery list as well as figure in the costs of getting to and from the grocery store. • Answer the questions – write up the first question on the large tablet. • You will have 30 minutes. • Have Fun!

Suggestions: • First, plan your shopping list of foods for the week. Consider the cost of transportation to best decide on the store you will shop at. • Second, write on paper your shopping list, how much the food will cost as well as the transportation costs • Third, answer questions – write up first question on tablet

Questions • Did your table come up with any ideas or solutions in how to better serve seniors in Oregon? • What did you learn from this experience? • What caused the most difficulties in your group in planning and staying within your person’s monthly budget? What store did you choose? Why?

What foods are missing from your person’s menu? Would you dip into your next week’s budget to eat more nutritious foods? Would you dip into your disposable income? How about the end of the month budget? • Would you eat the menu that you developed for your person? Why or why not?

Thank you for Attending! Please take a few moments to fill in the evaluation of the workshop. We have a special something for each of you as you turn it in. Judith Auslander – Judith@OregonHunger.org503-595-5501 x7 www.OregonHunger.org

Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon Presents