Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T20:17:47.149Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Food insecurity in community-dwelling older Australians

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2007

Susan Quine  and
Stephen Morrell
Susan Quine*
Affiliation:
School of Public Health, Building A27, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
Stephen Morrell
Affiliation:
School of Public Health, Building A27, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
*
*Corresponding author: Email sueq@health.usyd.edu.au
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.
Objective

To identify the extent of food insecurity (defined as running out of food in the last 12 months and being unable to afford to buy more) amongst older Australians, and the characteristics of those who experience this condition.

Design

Cross-sectional population survey.

Setting and subjects

Respondents (n = 8881) were community-dwelling older people (65 years and older) living independently in New South Wales, Australia, randomly sampled to participate in a computer-assisted telephone interview conducted during 1999–2000. The response rate was 71%. Responses to a food insecurity questionnaire item were collected along with sociodemographic information, living arrangements, lifestyle and self-rated health. Univariate analyses and logistic regression modelling of factors for reporting food insecurity were conducted.

Results

Approximately one in 50 older people reported experiencing food insecurity in the previous 12 months attributable to inadequate finances. The analyses revealed that those at risk can be identified as more likely to report poorer health, limited financial resources, not owning their own home and living alone. Gender and age differences were also evident.

Conclusions

While only a minority of older Australians reported experiencing food insecurity attributable to inadequate finances, such people are at higher risk of malnutrition and associated morbidity. Food insecurity is an important public health and equity issue in older people that can be addressed through implementing appropriate income and social support policies.

Keywords

Food insecurityOlder peoplePovertyAustralia
Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 9 , Issue 2 , April 2006 , pp. 219 - 224
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2006

References

1Anderson, SA. Core indicators of nutritional state for difficult-to-sample populations. Journal of Nutrition 1990; 119(11): 1559–600.Google Scholar
2Booth, S, Smith, A. Food security and poverty in Australia – challenges for dieticians. Australian Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics 2001; 58(3): 150–6.Google Scholar
3NSW Centre for Public Health Nutrition. Food Security Options Paper: A Planning Framework and Menu of Options for Policy and Practice Interventions . Sydney: NSW Department of Health, 2003.Google Scholar
4Cohen, BE, Burt, MR. Eliminating Hunger: Food Security Policy for the 1990's. Washington, DC: The Urban Institute, 1989.Google Scholar
5Radimer, KL, Olson, CM, Campbell, CC. Development of indicators to assess hunger. Journal of Nutrition 1990; 120(Suppl. 11): 1544–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2003. Rome: FAO, 2003.Google Scholar
7Nord, M, Andrews, M, Carlson, S. Household Food Insecurity in the United States 2002. Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Report No. 35. Washington, DC: US Department of Agriculture, 2003.Google Scholar
8Institute for the Study of Homelessness and Poverty. Hunger and Food Insecurity in Los Angeles. Los Angeles, CA: Institute for the Study of Homelessness and Poverty, 2001.Google Scholar
9Bickel, G, Carlson, S, Nord, M. Measuring Food Insecurity in the United States: Household Food Insecurity in the United States 1995–1998. Washington, DC: US Department of Agriculture, 1998.Google Scholar
10Tarasuk, VS. Household food insecurity with hunger is associated with women's food intakes, health and household circumstances. Journal of Nutrition 2001; 131(10): 2670–6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11Vozoris, NT, Tarasuk, VS. Household food insufficiency is associated with poorer health. Journal of Nutrition 2003; 133(1): 120–6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12Tingay, R, Tan, C, Tan, N, Tang, S, Teoh, P, Wong, R et al. . Food insecurity and low income in an English inner city. Journal of Public Health Medicine 2003; 25(2): 156–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13Travers, KD. The social organisation of nutritional inequities. Social Science & Medicine 1996; 43(4): 543–53.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14Campbell, CC. Food insecurity: a nutritional outcome or a predictor variable?. Journal of Nutrition 1991; 121(3): 408–15.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15Parker, SL. A national survey of nutritional risk among the elderly. Journal of Nutrition Education 1992; 24(1): 36S–45S.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
16Cook, G, Reed, J, Childs, S, Hall, A. Getting Old is Not for Cowards: Comfortable Healthy Ageing. York: James Rowntree Foundation, 2003.Google Scholar
17Cook, G, Reed, J, Childs, S, Hall, A. Does Money Matter? Older People's Views of their Monetary Resources. York: James Rowntree Foundation, 2004.Google Scholar
18Bridge, C, Kendig, H, Quine, S, Parsons, A. Housing and Care for Younger and Older Adults with Disabilities. Melbourne: Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, 2002.Google Scholar
19Smith, GD, Brunner, E. Socioeconomic differentials in health: the role of nutrition. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 1997; 56(1A): 75–90.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
20Wolfe, W, Olson, CM, Kendall, A, Frongillo, EA. Understanding food insecurity in the elderly: a conceptual framework. Journal of Nutrition Education 1996; 28(2): 92–100.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
21Russell, C, Touchard, D, Kendig, H, Quine, S. Foodways to disadvantaged men growing old in the inner city. In: Weisstub, DN, Thomasma, DC, Gauthier, S, Tomossy, GF eds. International Library of Ethics Law and New Medicine. Vol.1. Ageing. Boston, MA: Kluwer, 2000; 191–215.Google Scholar
22Whetstone, M. Hard Times: A Study of Pensioner Poverty. London: Centre for Policy on Ageing, 2002.Google Scholar
23Wicks, R, Trevena, L, Quine, S. Experiences of food insecurity amongst urban soup kitchen consumers: insights into improving nutrition and well-being. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 2005; in press.Google Scholar
24Gibson, D. The problem of old women redefined. In: Aged Care: Old Policies, New Problems. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998; 131–46.Google Scholar
25Lee, JS, Frongillo, EA. Nutritional and health consequences are associated with food insecurity among US older persons. Journal of Nutrition 2001; 131(5): 1503–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
26Cohen, BE, Chapman, N, Burt, MR. Food sources and intake of homeless persons. Journal of Nutrition Education 1992; 24(1): 45S–51S.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
27Quine, S, Kendig, H, Russell, C, Touchard, D. Health promotion of socially disadvantaged groups: the case of older men. Health Promotion International 2004; 19(2): 157–65.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
28Trevena, L, Simpson, J, Nutbeam, D. Soup kitchen consumer perspectives on the quality and frequency of health service interactions. International Journal for Quality in Health Care 2003; 15(6): 495–500.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
29Quine, S, Kendig, H. Stakeholders in policy research for older Australians. Hallym International Journal of Aging 1999; 1(2): 16–25.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
30Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). National Nutrition Survey: Selected Highlights, Australia. Catalogue No. 4802.0. Canberra: ABS, 1997.Google Scholar
31Ginn, J, Cooper, H, Arber, S. Inequalities in health-related behaviour among older people. In: Chiva, A, Stears, D, eds. Promoting the Health of Older People. Buckingham: Open University Press, 2001; 23–39.Google Scholar
32NSW Department of Health. NSW Older People's Health Survey 1999. NSW Public Health Bulletin 2000; 11(Suppl. 2):Google Scholar
33Baker, D, Williamson, MKendig, HQuine, S. The 1999 NSW Older Persons Health Survey: an opportunity to monitor the health and well-being of older people in the community. NSW Public Health Bulletin 1999; 10: 9–113.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
34NSW Department of Health. The NSW Health Survey Program: overview and methods, 1996–2000. NSW Public Health Bulletin 2001; 12(Suppl. 2).Google Scholar
35Quine, S, Kendig, H. Report on the Development of the Questionnaire for the NSW Older People's Health Survey. Sydney: NSW Department of Health, 2000.Google Scholar
36Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). Older Australians at a Glance. Canberra: AIHW, 2002.Google Scholar
37Lipschitz, DA, Nutrition. In: Cassel, CK, Cohen, HJ, LarsonEB, EB,, Meir, DE, Rubenstein, LZ, et al. , eds. Geriatric Medicine. 3rd ed. New York: Springer, 1997; 801–13.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
38Chernoff, R. Effects of age on nutrient requirements. Clinical Geriatric Medicine 1995; 11(4): 641–51.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
39Kendig, H. Family change and family bonding in Australia. In: Liu, W, Kendig, H, eds. Elderly Care, The Family and Human Values: East Meets West. Singapore: Singapore University Press, 2000. 107–25Google Scholar
40Payette, H, Coulombe, C. Nutritional risk factors for institutionalization in a free-living functionally dependent elderly population. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology 2000; 53: 579–87.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
41Australian Society for Geriatric Medicine. Australian Society for Geriatric Medicine Position Statement No. 6. Nutrition in the elderly. Australian Journal on Ageing 1997; 16:174–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
42Lorenzana, P, Sanjur, D. Abbreviated measures of food insufficiency validly estimate the food insecurity level of poor households: measuring household food insecurity. Journal of Nutrition 1999; 129(3): 687–92.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
43Wolfe, W, Frongillo, E, Valois, P. Understanding the experience of food insecurity by elders suggests ways to improve its measurement. Journal of Nutrition 2003; 133(9): 2762–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
44Salkeld, G, Cameron, I, Cumming, R, Easter, S, Seymour, J, Kurrle, S, et al. . Quality of life related to fear of falling and hip fracture in older women: a time trade-off study. British Medical Journal 2000; 320(7231): 341–5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
45Davey Smith, G, Dorling, D, Gordon, D, Shaw, M. The widening health gap: what are the solutions? In: Davey Smith, G, ed. Health Inequalities: Life Course Approaches. Bristol: The Policy Press, 2003; 453–7.Google Scholar