More Than 7,600 Older Adult Households In Salt Lake County Can’t Afford Groceries Without Help
Salt Lake County, UT — More than 7,600 older adult households in Salt Lake County rely on public assistance to afford groceries, highlighting ongoing challenges around food access and affordability for aging residents on fixed or limited incomes. Older adults are defined as individuals aged sixty and older.
According to new research commissioned by the Salt Lake County Office of Regional Development and conducted by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, 5.7 percent of older adult households in the county receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, underscoring the role nutrition assistance plays in helping older adults meet basic needs.
Salt Lake County anticipated challenges like those reflected in this research and made recent increases to the County's budget for senior nutrition and other supportive services, provided through Aging and Adult Services.
"For many older adults, nutrition is directly tied to health, independence, and the ability to age in place," said Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson. "Salt Lake County recognizes the incredible value that our meal programs provide. We continue to prioritize our Meals on Wheels program and the meals programs available at our senior centers. These recent findings help us better understand where support is needed and how we can best respond."
The findings are part of a broader research effort focused on Age-Friendly Salt Lake County, developed in partnership with the Salt Lake County Office of Regional Development and the Department of Aging and Adult Services. Salt Lake County was designated an AARP Age-Friendly Community last year. This study was a continuation of that commitment to creating environments that support residents at every stage of life.
"This data makes clear that food affordability is a real issue for many older adults in our community," said Salt Lake County Council Chair Aimee Winder Newton. "As Salt Lake County's older population continues to grow, ensuring access to nutritious food is essential to supporting health, independence, and quality of life."
While overall food insecurity among older adults has declined in recent years, the report shows that affordability remains a concern, particularly for those living on fixed incomes or facing rising costs related to inflation, especially in regard to housing, health care, and transportation.
These critical nutrition programs are possible because of county, state, and federal funding. Any cuts to this funding have the potential to impact the number of people Salt Lake County is able to serve in their homes and in their community senior centers.
Salt Lake County is currently developing an Age-Friendly Action Plan, a year-long effort that will outline strategies to address challenges identified in the research, including food access, health, housing, and community support. The plan is expected to be released later this year.
Additional findings from the Health and Nutrition report will be released in the coming months, leading up to a full release and a formal presentation to the Salt Lake County Council in April. This will be followed by an opportunity for media to speak directly with subject matter experts.
To learn more about Age-Friendly Salt Lake County and ongoing efforts to support older adults, visit slco.to/agefriendly. Salt Lake County older adults in need should reach out to Salt Lake County Aging and Adult Services at (385) 468-3200 or saltlakecounty.gov/aging-adult-services/. For tax relief, go to slco.to/relief.