The increase in attendance of Pensioner Age Households (PAH) at food aid providers is a worrying trend that could indicate the beginning of a public health crisis. Before the pandemic and the cost of living crisis, older people were infrequent visitors to food banks. Recently, food aid providers including the Trussell Trust and IFAN have reported increasing numbers of older adults seeking support.
Background
The increase in attendance of Pensioner Age Households (PAH) at food aid providers is a worrying trend that could indicate the beginning of a public health crisis. Recently food aid providers including the Trussell Trust and IFAN (who represent independent food banks) have reported increasing numbers of older adults seeking support to meet their food needs. The East of England has seen a 129% increase in food bank use. As very little is known about pensionable age households’ use of food aid and how this affects their risk of malnutrition, this study will begin to address this gap in knowledge. We will be undertaking a review of the current state of academic knowledge as well as talking to managers and volunteers running food aid services and older people using them.
Reasons for low levels of older households using food aid could be due to avoidance due to high levels of shame and stigma as well as other factors e.g. difficulty accessing food banks, carrying food home and lack of technological expertise.
Food insecurity in older adults differs from that in younger adults, often featuring accumulation of a number of factors including decline in functional ability, bereavement, and reduction in social networks, not just financial threats. Austerity has resulted in declines in services that historically supported food security for older people, including meals on wheels and lunch clubs.
Prolonged food insecurity increases risk of malnutrition/undernutrition. It is estimated that around one in 10 older people in the UK at suffering from or at risk of malnutrition with an estimated cost in the UK of £23.8 billion in 2017. As we know so little about pensionable age households’ use of food aid and how this impacts on their risk of malnutrition, this study will begin to address this gap in knowledge.
Project Aims
To explore the current food aid landscape available to, and being used by, pensioner age households (PAH) in the UK.
Project Activity
A scoping review of the academic literature. Interviews and observations in a range of food aid settings, including interviews with volunteers at food aid organisations and older adults.
Anticipated or actual outputs
Evidence to support food aid organisations as well as referral pathways involving older adults.
Who is involved?
Angela Dickinson, University of Hertfordshire, Corresponding Author.
Claire Thompson, University of Hertfordshire
Millie Barnes, University of Hertfordshire
Irene McClelland, Torbay & South Devon NHS Foundation Trust & University of Plymouth.
Debbie Drew, University of Hertfordshire and NIHR ARC East of England
Contact
Angela Dickinson- a.m.dickinson@herts.ac.uk
