According to Enid Borden, Executive Director of Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA), in her Huffington Post article in July 2011, there are four enduring myths about senior hunger in America.

In a four part series I will discuss each myth separately. Subscribe to our blog (the Sign Me Up button is in the right hand column) to be notified of future posts.

PART 2

Myth #2 – Senior hunger is only a problem for poor people.

FACT – While low-income seniors suffer more, and often have to make disquieting choices between purchasing medication or food, senior hunger is not just an income issue. It is also a problem of access and care. Many seniors who can afford it, lack the mobility to get and prepare their own meals and don’t have other support systems to help them. Those same seniors and others live in areas that are more difficult to access.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of Meals On Wheels programs and volunteers on the ground, that we represent, some of these seniors will get a home-delivered meal and a caring visit. But not everyone who needs help. Right now and especially in this tough economic climate, our members lack the resources they need to make that happen.

This fact, for me, was the hardest to understand. I always thought that Meals On Wheels delivered only to the poor. But there are over 5,000 MOW’s around the United States and some are in the most affluent counties in the country. The need exists in every corner of our nation and it’s up to all of us to ensure these seniors are not forgotten.