The Demographic Characteristics Of The Senior Population...

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK The demographic characteristics of the senior population has been changing over time. The rise in diversity and the geographic placement of seniors can provide an opportunity to examine their use of the social program SNAP. Characteristics of food insecurity such a geography and race correlate with higher rates of food insecurity and as these same characteristics continue to grow in the senior population. Since seniors have the lowest rates of SNAP participation versus other age groups, and their rates of food insecurity continue to grow it is important to examine what characteristics impact the likelihood of SNAP take up among this population. Demographic Shifts With increases in longevity, improved quality of life†¦show more content†¦In 2003 close to 12% of those aged 70-79 years of age faced the threat of hunger, and that rate grew to about 14% in 2013. For those aged 80 and older there was about a 2% increase in those facing the threat of hunger from 2003 to 2013, moving from around 9% to close to 11%. All three age groups saw sharp increases from 2007 to 2008, though the growth was more pronounced in the younger age group (Ziliak Gundersen, 2013, 2014). The pattern of higher rates among younger age groups of seniors also occurs in SNAP participation. There is a clear age gradient in SNAP participation among seniors. In 2009, older age categories had lower take-up rates among seniors. Seniors aged 60-64 had 34% take-up rate, those aged 65-69 had 33% take-up, seniors aged 70-74 had 29% take-up, those age 75-79 had 30% take up, and those older than 80 years of age had 28% take-up (Leftin, 2011). Like longevity trends, racial trends among the elderly are an important aspect when looking at demographics of the aging population. The growing aging population is also changing in composition. The aging populace is moving to be a more racially and ethnically diverse population than previous aging populations (Ortman Velkoff, 2014). In 2010, non-Hispanic whites made up 80% of adults aged 65 years or older, by 2030 that percent will decrease to 71.2% of the population 65 and older. It is predicted that by 2050 non-Hispanic whites will make up fewer than 60% of the