Food security among rural Newfoundland seniors

• Main Author: Callahan, Cynthia M.
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Memorial University of Newfoundland 2003
• Subjects: Newfoundland
• Online Access: https://research.library.mun.ca/10255/; https://research.library.mun.ca/10255/1/Callahan__Cynthia.pdf

The proportion of seniors in the Canadian population is increasing and will continue to rise in the future. Nutrition plays a very important role for seniors because it can improve quality of life, decrease mortality and morbidity rates, and improve overall health status. As seniors age they are at a greater risk of developing chronic disease and nutrition plays an important role in helping to decrease this risk. However, a number of barriers have been identified that can effect food security and the nutritional health of this group. These include financial resources, social support, transportation, and access to nutrition services. -- The purpose of this study was to survey seniors in rural Newfoundland communities to identify factors which may predispose them to food insecurity. The study was a cross-sectional descriptive study of seniors residing in several rural communities in Newfoundland within Economic Zone 17. The definition of senior for the purpose of this study included individuals who were 65 years and older. Seniors' were recruited using seniors groups, churches, clinics and Health and Community Services sites. The convenient study sample consisted of 144 seniors with a response rate of 39%. The data was collected using a questionnaire that seniors completed themselves and the BPI-Info Program was used for data analysis. -- Seniors were considered to be food secure when no problems were identified with respect to food availability, accessibility or consumption of food. Overall, the majority of seniors in this sample were food secure and no major issues were identified that predisposed this group to be at risk for food insecurity. Ninety-two percent of participants indicated they were eating enough of the foods that they wanted to eat. Eighty-six percent of participants reported they were food secure and that they did not have to resort to any coping strategies to deal with food insecurity. A very small percentage of seniors indicated they may be at risk of experiencing food insecurity. Some seniors ...