Age and Food Shelf Access

Cans of food stacked on a shelf at a food pantry. Photo from the Salvation Army

Cross-Sectional Age Group Comparison of Experiences, Barriers, and Trade-Offs in Minnesota’s Emergency Food System

Health Education and Behavior   |  LCC Member: Patrick J. Brady 

Researchers looked at the differences between households with an older adult (65 and older) and those without who accessed a food shelf in Minnesota. They found households with older adults were: 

  • More likely to have accessed the food shelf longer and more frequently
  • Less likely to report hours or transportation as barriers
  • Less likely to have to choose between food and paying for utilities, transportation, housing, child care, and education

These findings expand our understanding of households with and without older adult members who receive emergency food and could be used to inform interventions in the emergency food system to better address inadequate food access.