Our research on food insecurity among seniors aims to identify the prevalence of senior hunger and to understand seniors' unique needs, characteristics, and risk factors. The research studies highlighted on this page are used to inform our programs and efforts to eliminate senior hunger.
The State of Senior Hunger in America
The State of Senior Hunger in America annual report series documents the prevalence of food insecurity among the senior population age 60 and older in the United States. It identifies the geographic variation in food insecurity among seniors, providing data for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
The most recent report, released in 2020 using 2018 data, found that 5.3 million seniors, or 7.3% of the senior population, were food insecure in 2018. The rate of food insecurity among seniors is lower in recent years but remains significantly higher than pre-recession levels in 2007. State-level rates of food insecurity among seniors range from 2.8% in Minnesota to 14.3% in the District of Columbia. The study also includes analysis of metropolitan areas, with senior food insecurity rates ranging from 2.5% in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area (MN) to 15.6% in the Memphis (TN) area.
The 2020 release also includes Hunger Among Adults Age 50-59 in 2018. Findings reveal that in 2018, an estimated 10.6% of older adults age 50-59 are food insecure. At the state level, rates range from 2.6% in Colorado to 17.3% in Kentucky, and at the metropolitan area level, rates range from 4.6% in the Denver-Aurora area (CO) to 17.4% in the Hartford (CT) and Memphis (TN) areas. With the senior population expected to grow in the decades to come, this analysis reveals the challenges faced today by millions of aging adults and provides insight into the future challenges that may be faced by the next generation of seniors.
This research was conducted by Dr. Craig Gundersen and Dr. James Ziliak using data from the Current Population Survey.
Related Materials - 2020 release:
- The State of Senior Hunger in America in 2018 – Full report
- The State of Senior Hunger in America in 2018 – Executive Summary
- Hunger Among Adults Age 50-59 in 2018 – Full report
- Hunger Among Adults Age 50-59 in 2018 – Executive Summary
- Senior Hunger in the United States – Infographic
- References for Executive Summaries and Infographic
Report Archive
The State of Senior Hunger (Release 2019):
- The State of Senior Hunger in America in 2017 - Full Report
- The State of Senior Hunger in America in 2017 - Executive Summary
- Hunger Among Adults Age 50-59 in 2017 - Full Report
- Hunger Among Adults Age 50-59 in 2017 - Executive Summary
- Senior Hunger in the United States - Infographic
- References for Executive Summaries and Infographic
The State of Senior Hunger (Release 2018):
The 2018 release of The State of Senior Hunger (based on data from 2016) include the following reports:
The State of Senior Hunger (Release 2017):
The 2017 release of The State of Senior Hunger (based on data from 2015) include the following reports:
- 2017 Report (2015 data)
- 2017 Report Supplement (2015 data)
- 2017 Executive Summary (2015 data)
- The Health Consequences of Senior Hunger in the United States: Evidence from the 1999-2014 NHANES - A report about health implications for food-insecure seniors
Spotlight on Senior Health (Release: 2014)
Spotlight on Senior Health: Adverse Health Outcomes of Food Insecure Older Americans used data from the NHANES survey to document the health and nutrition implications of food insecurity among seniors aged 60 and older.
Spotlight on Senior Hunger (Release: 2013)
Spotlight on Senior Hunger (using 2011 data) used Current Population Survey data to identify national and state-level trends in senior food insecurity, exploring some determinants of senior food insecurity, including race/ethnicity, age, income, and living with a disability.
