One in nine DC seniors does not have enough food to live a healthy life.1 At the same time, DC has over a dozen programs and services that provide food for free or at a reduced cost.2 The Lab and the DC Department of Aging and Community Living (DACL) looked at how to make it easier for seniors to get healthy food. We concluded that a coordinated entry system could help seniors access food assistance programs. We also need to strengthen and advertise the existing food assistance programs that serve seniors in the District.
DACL Senior Wellness barbecue. Photo Credit: DACL’s Flickr
Why is this issue important in DC?
Seniors have unique needs when it comes to accessing healthy food. They have higher rates of disability, tend to live alone, and are more likely to live on a fixed income. They are also more likely to have health issues like diabetes, congestive heart failure, or depression.3 These factors make it harder for some to get groceries and make meals. These factors may also restrict a senior’s diet and force tough food buying decisions. Considering these needs is crucial because DC has one of the highest rates of senior food insecurity in the nation.4
What did we do?
We talked to over 50 individuals at community organizations, DC government agencies, and seniors to learn more about the issue. We also observed food assistance programs in action. For example, we visited a wholesale grocery club, a meal delivery program, and a community dining site. To organize the information we heard and prioritize findings, we brought together DC government staff who work on food access or with seniors to help us find themes.
What have we learned?
We had two main conclusions about the state of food assistance for DC seniors. First, a coordinated entry system could be useful to help seniors find food assistance programs that meet their needs. Rather than building a new system, the District could strengthen and promote LinkU, an existing online tool that connects people to food assistance programs and other community resources. Second, existing food programs and outreach could be improved to better meet seniors’ needs. This could look like:
- expanding home delivery services,
- adding spots in programs with waitlists,
- increasing the amount of food or funds participants receive, or
- adjusting eligibility criteria to make programs more inclusive.
Because some programs are underused, funding for targeted outreach could also help. Our full report details our findings.
What comes next?
Based on our findings, the District will do more targeted outreach to seniors to enroll them in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP is a federally-funded program that provides money to low-income residents to buy groceries. SNAP will be our focus for outreach because only half of eligible seniors currently use SNAP. This outreach work will begin in late 2023.
The District will continue to invest in LinkU. Seniors and groups that help seniors can use the tool directly to find food programs and other resources. DACL is exploring ways to use LinkU to connect more seniors to food programs.
What happened behind the scenes?
On our listening tour, we met seniors who voluntarily help their neighbors get food assistance. People like “Ms. W” organize and distribute Grocery Plus boxes in her neighborhood. “Ms. D” carries with her a binder of food assistance fact sheets and applications to share. An outreach campaign that works with these trusted messengers could be especially effective because they have the trust of their peers and are good at spreading vital information.