All Americans struggling to make a decent living have found it incredibly tough due to rising inflation. However, a recent study found that older persons are disproportionately affected by the skyrocketing costs of commodities. According to University of Michigan researchers, increasing food costs are putting several seniors in a precarious situation where they must decide whether to eat junk or go without meals.
Three-quarters of American Seniors are worried about the increasing cost of food.
Three out of four American seniors feel that the increasing cost of food is impacting them, according to a study by the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging. In addition, one in three people claims that they eat less healthfully to save cash due to inflation.
The global financial crisis is disproportionately harming older persons in poor physical and mental health and those living in low-income families.
Poll director Preet Malani said that for the most vulnerable seniors, the rising food cost is likely to worsen an already bad situation. The study findings suggest a need for food support for seniors.
Surprisingly, even seniors still working are hurting because of increasing food prices. Close to 41% of Americans between 50-60 years state that increasing grocery prices affect them most relative to 30% of those between 65 and 80 years.
Seniors buying less nutritious food
Seniors rate their physical health as poor or fair (46%), those making less than $30,000 (56%), individuals without a college education (48%), and those with poor or fair mental health (58%) were the most likely to be affected by inflation.
Several respondents said they are deliberately altering their grocery shopping habits due to the monthly bite that inflation is taking out of their income. Around 36% of adults aged 50 to 64 confess they purchase less nutritionally rich food because it is less expensive. Many senior citizens have experienced continual anxiety over the past year of a food shortage before they are able to afford to purchase more.