One Health

Seniors-those 65 and older-are the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, 55.8 million seniors lived in the U.S., making up 16.8% of the total population.[i] In 2022, an estimated 7 million older Americans (age 60+) faced food insecurity, meaning they lacked reliable access to enough nutritious food.[ii]

Food insecurity can lead to:

• Eating less or reducing portion sizes,
• Consuming a less varied diet, or
• Relying on food pantries or supplemental nutrition programs.

The consequences of food insecurity are serious, increasing the risk of malnutrition, vitamin deficiencies, and chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart failure, high blood pressure, asthma, obesity, and gum disease. It can also contribute to mental health issues due to stress and anxiety over food access.

Pets provide companionship and help reduce loneliness, yet research from Meals on Wheels found that more than 1 in 5 clients sacrificed their own food to feed their pets.[iii] To address pet food insecurity, many pet owners turn to pet food pantries or human food pantries that also supply pet food.[iv] Offering both types of food at one location can help seniors overcome transportation and accessibility challenges.

If your community has a food pantry or nutrition program that provides both pet and human food, have you observed a decrease in demand for human food as people no longer have to share their meals with their pets?

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Linda Daugherty
Associate Director
Program for Pet Health Equity
TN
------------------------------

What a great question @Linda Daugherty. 

@Monica Brown, your program is all about our seniors and their pets. Have you or your partners in the community noticed or said anything about a decrease in demand for their human food, as this group of seniors no longer has to share their meals with their pets?

Seniors-those 65 and older-are the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, 55.8 million seniors lived in the U.S., making up 16.8% of the total population.[i] In 2022, an estimated 7 million older Americans (age 60+) faced food insecurity, meaning they lacked reliable access to enough nutritious food.[ii]

Food insecurity can lead to:

• Eating less or reducing portion sizes,
• Consuming a less varied diet, or
• Relying on food pantries or supplemental nutrition programs.

The consequences of food insecurity are serious, increasing the risk of malnutrition, vitamin deficiencies, and chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart failure, high blood pressure, asthma, obesity, and gum disease. It can also contribute to mental health issues due to stress and anxiety over food access.

Pets provide companionship and help reduce loneliness, yet research from Meals on Wheels found that more than 1 in 5 clients sacrificed their own food to feed their pets.[iii] To address pet food insecurity, many pet owners turn to pet food pantries or human food pantries that also supply pet food.[iv] Offering both types of food at one location can help seniors overcome transportation and accessibility challenges.

If your community has a food pantry or nutrition program that provides both pet and human food, have you observed a decrease in demand for human food as people no longer have to share their meals with their pets?

------------------------------
Linda Daugherty
Associate Director
Program for Pet Health Equity
TN
------------------------------

Seniors-those 65 and older-are the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, 55.8 million seniors lived in the U.S., making up 16.8% of the total population.[i] In 2022, an estimated 7 million older Americans (age 60+) faced food insecurity, meaning they lacked reliable access to enough nutritious food.[ii]

Food insecurity can lead to:

• Eating less or reducing portion sizes,
• Consuming a less varied diet, or
• Relying on food pantries or supplemental nutrition programs.

The consequences of food insecurity are serious, increasing the risk of malnutrition, vitamin deficiencies, and chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart failure, high blood pressure, asthma, obesity, and gum disease. It can also contribute to mental health issues due to stress and anxiety over food access.

Pets provide companionship and help reduce loneliness, yet research from Meals on Wheels found that more than 1 in 5 clients sacrificed their own food to feed their pets.[iii] To address pet food insecurity, many pet owners turn to pet food pantries or human food pantries that also supply pet food.[iv] Offering both types of food at one location can help seniors overcome transportation and accessibility challenges.

If your community has a food pantry or nutrition program that provides both pet and human food, have you observed a decrease in demand for human food as people no longer have to share their meals with their pets?

------------------------------
Linda Daugherty
Associate Director
Program for Pet Health Equity
TN
------------------------------

Hi Linda, Here's the link to the Meals on Wheels America Pet Programming report that offers some more stats on foregoing care, the specific needs of MOW clients with pets, the reported inability to access veterinary care (thank YOU and the PPHE team for permitting the use of your questions and sharing your expertise in reviewing the survey), the barriers and more. Of particular upset was finding that only 16% of these pet families had ever reached out to an animal shelter for help with their pet. Why partnership with social service agencies is so important and integrating pet and human services together. https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/docs/default-source/research/pet-programming-and-client-needs-assessment_final-report.pdf 

Seniors-those 65 and older-are the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, 55.8 million seniors lived in the U.S., making up 16.8% of the total population.[i] In 2022, an estimated 7 million older Americans (age 60+) faced food insecurity, meaning they lacked reliable access to enough nutritious food.[ii]

Food insecurity can lead to:

• Eating less or reducing portion sizes,
• Consuming a less varied diet, or
• Relying on food pantries or supplemental nutrition programs.

The consequences of food insecurity are serious, increasing the risk of malnutrition, vitamin deficiencies, and chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart failure, high blood pressure, asthma, obesity, and gum disease. It can also contribute to mental health issues due to stress and anxiety over food access.

Pets provide companionship and help reduce loneliness, yet research from Meals on Wheels found that more than 1 in 5 clients sacrificed their own food to feed their pets.[iii] To address pet food insecurity, many pet owners turn to pet food pantries or human food pantries that also supply pet food.[iv] Offering both types of food at one location can help seniors overcome transportation and accessibility challenges.

If your community has a food pantry or nutrition program that provides both pet and human food, have you observed a decrease in demand for human food as people no longer have to share their meals with their pets?

------------------------------
Linda Daugherty
Associate Director
Program for Pet Health Equity
TN
------------------------------

Linda as a previous and current recipient of MOWA/PetSmart Charities grant funding I feel like the data that they have maybe very beneficial to you in your research here in Knoxville.  I am happy to share my membership credentials with you in order for you to see all the organizations that are supported by MOWA/PetSmart Charities.  The work I do with Knox PAWS/Feed-a-Pet has been used as examples and as case studies for other MOWA groups.  I have been a mentor for the past 4 years and spoke at the annual conference 2 years ago. The Pet Curriculum is an amazing collaboration of the work done by MOWA members supporting both humans and their pets.    

Heather, I attended the webinar yesterday and cannot wait for more to come.  As Linda knows we are trying hard here in Knoxville to combine the efforts of social services for human and animal welfare folks but sometimes encounter resistance.  My programs Knox PAWS/Feed-a-Pet have been working with both 2 legged folks and their pets to provide the ONE HEALTH philosophy since 2001unfortunately instead of becoming easier over the years it has become a bit more difficult.  Funding opportunities are not as plentiful, community engagement seems to be decreasing and the needs of the demographic we serve (and their pets) has increased.  

Just wanted to chime in and add to this very important discussion.

Hi Linda, Here's the link to the Meals on Wheels America Pet Programming report that offers some more stats on foregoing care, the specific needs of MOW clients with pets, the reported inability to access veterinary care (thank YOU and the PPHE team for permitting the use of your questions and sharing your expertise in reviewing the survey), the barriers and more. Of particular upset was finding that only 16% of these pet families had ever reached out to an animal shelter for help with their pet. Why partnership with social service agencies is so important and integrating pet and human services together. https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/docs/default-source/research/pet-programming-and-client-needs-assessment_final-report.pdf 

Seniors-those 65 and older-are the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, 55.8 million seniors lived in the U.S., making up 16.8% of the total population.[i] In 2022, an estimated 7 million older Americans (age 60+) faced food insecurity, meaning they lacked reliable access to enough nutritious food.[ii]

Food insecurity can lead to:

• Eating less or reducing portion sizes,
• Consuming a less varied diet, or
• Relying on food pantries or supplemental nutrition programs.

The consequences of food insecurity are serious, increasing the risk of malnutrition, vitamin deficiencies, and chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart failure, high blood pressure, asthma, obesity, and gum disease. It can also contribute to mental health issues due to stress and anxiety over food access.

Pets provide companionship and help reduce loneliness, yet research from Meals on Wheels found that more than 1 in 5 clients sacrificed their own food to feed their pets.[iii] To address pet food insecurity, many pet owners turn to pet food pantries or human food pantries that also supply pet food.[iv] Offering both types of food at one location can help seniors overcome transportation and accessibility challenges.

If your community has a food pantry or nutrition program that provides both pet and human food, have you observed a decrease in demand for human food as people no longer have to share their meals with their pets?

------------------------------
Linda Daugherty
Associate Director
Program for Pet Health Equity
TN
------------------------------

Hi Linda, Here's the link to the Meals on Wheels America Pet Programming report that offers some more stats on foregoing care, the specific needs of MOW clients with pets, the reported inability to access veterinary care (thank YOU and the PPHE team for permitting the use of your questions and sharing your expertise in reviewing the survey), the barriers and more. Of particular upset was finding that only 16% of these pet families had ever reached out to an animal shelter for help with their pet. Why partnership with social service agencies is so important and integrating pet and human services together. https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/docs/default-source/research/pet-programming-and-client-needs-assessment_final-report.pdf 

Seniors-those 65 and older-are the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, 55.8 million seniors lived in the U.S., making up 16.8% of the total population.[i] In 2022, an estimated 7 million older Americans (age 60+) faced food insecurity, meaning they lacked reliable access to enough nutritious food.[ii]

Food insecurity can lead to:

• Eating less or reducing portion sizes,
• Consuming a less varied diet, or
• Relying on food pantries or supplemental nutrition programs.

The consequences of food insecurity are serious, increasing the risk of malnutrition, vitamin deficiencies, and chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart failure, high blood pressure, asthma, obesity, and gum disease. It can also contribute to mental health issues due to stress and anxiety over food access.

Pets provide companionship and help reduce loneliness, yet research from Meals on Wheels found that more than 1 in 5 clients sacrificed their own food to feed their pets.[iii] To address pet food insecurity, many pet owners turn to pet food pantries or human food pantries that also supply pet food.[iv] Offering both types of food at one location can help seniors overcome transportation and accessibility challenges.

If your community has a food pantry or nutrition program that provides both pet and human food, have you observed a decrease in demand for human food as people no longer have to share their meals with their pets?

------------------------------
Linda Daugherty
Associate Director
Program for Pet Health Equity
TN
------------------------------