AARP Pennsylvania Releases Report and Recommendations to Fight Hunger for the 50+ in the Commonwealth

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Feb 26, 2015, 02:00 ET

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 26, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AARP Pennsylvania released today, 'Hunger Among 50+ Adults in Pennsylvania: A Summary of Roundtable Discussions', created in partnership with the AARP Foundation. The report is a result of convened discussions with key stakeholders in two separate roundtables, held in Philadelphia in 2013 and in southwestern Pennsylvania in 2014, for participating groups to learn how hunger affects Pennsylvania's aging population and to share workable solutions to this important issue.

Hunger among seniors is an issue that acutely affects Pennsylvania, a state with the 4^th highest concentration of 50+ persons nationwide. The 50+ have unique nutritional needs due to medical conditions. According to 2013 US Census data, there are 2.04 million seniors 65 and older living in the state. Almost 15 percent of seniors in PA are food insecure, and 27 percent of Pennsylvania households receiving SNAP benefits have a person over age 60.

"This report provides a snapshot to the wealth of information provided by our many partners doing this great work throughout the state," says Bill Johnston-Walsh, AARP PA State Director. "We hope these recommendations can further mobilize and advance the work our partners are doing that continues to impact the lives of the 50+ here in Pennsylvania."

The report contains key recommendations and action steps, including:

Raise awareness and engage businesses and organizations, including faith-based nonprofits, on the hunger issue and how they can help;
Lobby legislators and policymakers to eliminate asset tests to qualify for SNAP benefits in Pennsylvania and create a simplified enrollment procedure in SNAP for the 60+, including automatic notification of eligibility for SNAP for individuals already enrolled in state programs such as PACE and PACENET who meet SNAP eligibility requirements;
Create a "coordination model" across agencies and organizations that come in contact with and/or serve people in need so that people who are applying for one type of assistance can easily be identified for other types of assistance that they may need or qualify for.

Since 2013, AARP has been raising awareness to the growing problem of food insecurity by convening community organizations, advocates and policy makers to examine how to break down the barriers that currently exist for connecting older adults in need with food assistance, and finding sustainable solutions to senior hunger in Pennsylvania.

AARP has partnered with Ameri-Corps VISTA on fighting hunger in Pennsylvania. Volunteers have been trained to conduct SNAP outreach and actively participate in anti-hunger outreach efforts in communities across Pennsylvania: conducting SNAP pre-screenings, referrals, and application assistance. This new outreach program has directly reached almost 3,000 Pennsylvanians to date. An additional component to Ameri-Corps Vista/SNAP Outreach for AARP in Pennsylvania is the formation of a new pilot program "Cooking Matters," an inter-active, guided in-store shopping tour, taking place in the Lehigh Valley Area.

"AARP led the effort in bringing together leading food advocates throughout the state that are fighting every day to end hunger in our aging communities," says Jim Palmquist, AARP PA State President. "As a result, they have built a strong coalition of shared mission and purpose. The report celebrates the work being done on-the-ground every day by these organizations and partners."

Underlying these efforts is data and research advanced by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), the leading national nonprofit organization working to improve public policies and public-private partnerships to eradicate hunger and under-nutrition in the United States. With respect to senior hunger, FRAC has highlighted best policy approaches for states to maximize federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for needy seniors. These range from eliminating the asset test in SNAP, to promoting the standard medical deduction that can boost a senior's monthly SNAP benefit amount significantly.

In addressing the issue of hunger statewide, AARP Pennsylvania worked with on the ground leaders, advocates and experts to cull the specific perspectives from their communities in order to identify unique challenges, as well as shared opportunities, to fighting hunger. AARP convened notable Philadelphia organizations for a roundtable discussion and faith leadership luncheon in 2013, including organizations like the Mayor's Commission on Aging, Philabundance, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger. Also, in 2014, AARP Pennsylvania convened the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and the Southwestern Pennsylvania Food Security Partnership for a roundtable discussion to bring the light the specific challenges in their communities in southwestern Pennsylvania.

The report will be available for download online, at www.aarp.org/pa. More information about AARP's hunger work can be found at www.aarp.org/hunger

AARP has 1.8 million members in Pennsylvania. Follow AARP Pennsylvania on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AARPPA and on Twitter @AARPPA.

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million, that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment and income security, retirement planning, affordable utilities and protection from financial abuse. We advocate for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services. A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news and educational information, AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the world's largest circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin; www.aarp.org; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP en Español, a Spanish-language website addressing the interests and needs of Hispanics. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. The AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at www.aarp.org.

CONTACT: Angela Foreshaw-Rouse, AARP Pennsylvania
(267) 825 - 9921 or [email protected]

Steve Gardner, AARP Pennsylvania
(717) 237-6481 or [email protected]

SOURCE AARP Pennsylvania