Issue Brief 15: Food insecurity among older adults

High out-of-pocket costs for medications and other healthcare expenses can force older adults to choose between paying for their medical treatment and basic needs, like groceries and nutritious food.

Food insecurity increases the chance that an individual may not be able to adhere to their medical treatment, even more so during the current pandemic, and research has also found that food insecurity can result in increased healthcare costs.

This issue brief examines the growing problem of food insecurity among older adults and discusses the link between out-of-pocket healthcare costs, food insecurity, and individuals’ ability to access their healthcare.