opinion
The holiday eating and wasting of food is in full gear. During this time of the year, many people will have homes full of guests and an abundance of food. The selection will range from healthy to unhealthy food choices, while others will not have a choice to make. Many older adults do not have the option of choosing healthy foods. Because of decreased finances, the choice of food consists of affordable, easy-to-prepare prepackaged foods that are high in sodium and fat content.
Food is a requirement for growth, development and healthy living from birth to old age. Older adults require healthy food for management of diseases and to combat malnutrition. Older adults’ ability to access healthy food may be limited because of limited finances, lack of transportation, social isolation, mobility issues and mental or physical changes.
The United Health Foundation 's America's Health Rankings indicate that approximately 8.6 million adults 60 or older face hunger daily. The state of Tennessee ranks 36th among adults in this age category with food insecurity, while one-fifth of Tennessee households with older adults have limited or no assistance to access healthy food. How can this issue be addressed in Tennessee?
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which is federally funded, provides access to healthy foods through monthly allowances that allow participants to purchase food from farmers’ markets, grocery stores or convenience stores. During the past five years, Tennessee dropped below the national average for enrollment in SNAP for older adults. These staggering numbers indicate a need for policymakers to increase enrollment in programs such as SNAP in order for older adults to have adequate healthy foods and improved health outcomes.
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In health care, managing chronic disease consists of prescribing medication and educating patients on lifestyle changes of diet and exercise. For older adults with high blood pressure, heart disease or diabetes, dietary intake is essential to the management of these conditions. Providers often educate patients on eating healthy foods without knowing if the patient has the means to purchase them. Health care providers and family members of older adults have an important role in improving access to healthy foods by identifying individuals who may require and benefit from SNAP enrollment.
How to enroll in SNAP
Following the identification of individuals who can benefit from SNAP, enrollment in the program must occur. How does a person enroll in the SNAP program? The application for SNAP is on the Tennessee Department of Human Services' SNAP enrollment website. An individual may enroll online, via mail or in person at a local county office. Problems or issues with enrolling include understanding the application form, the inability to complete the form due to lack of internet access, and lack of transportation. The Tennessee Department of Human Services can address this problem by placing case managers in providers’ clinics or community health clinics to educate and assist in completion of applications.
Increasing older adults’ enrollment in SNAP and improving health outcomes for our aging population requires collaboration between health care providers and Tennessee policymakers. As the 60-plus population grows, it is imperative that they continue to have the option to choose healthy foods over unhealthy foods. Providing access to healthy foods maintains and improves the health of older Tennessee residents.
Carrie R. McCoy is a nurse practitioner in Knoxville and a doctoral nursing student in the College of Nursing at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
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December 18, 2019 at 06:00PM
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SNAP can help older adults obtain the food they need for good health | Opinion - Knoxville News Sentinel
"Healthy food" - Google News
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