Abstract
BackgroundPoverty and food insecurity have been linked to poor health and morbidity, especially in older adults. Housing is recognized as a social determinant of health, and very little is known about subjective poverty and food insecurity in the marginalized population of older adults living in subsidized social housing. We sought to understand poverty and food insecurity, as well as the risk factors associated with both outcomes, in older adults living in social housing in Ontario.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study using data collected from the Community Paramedicine at Clinic (CP@clinic) program. A total of 806 adult participants residing in designated seniors’ or mixed family-seniors’ social housing buildings attended CP@clinic within 14 communities across Ontario, Canada.ResultsThe proportion of older adults reporting poverty and food insecurity were 14.9 and 5.1%, respectively. Statistically significant risk factors associated with poverty were being a smoker (AOR = 2.38, 95% CI: 1.23–4.62), self-reporting feeling extremely anxious and/or depressed (AOR = 3.39, 95% CI: 1.34–8.62), and being food insecure (AOR = 23.52, 95% CI: 8.75–63.22). Statistically significant risk factors associated with food insecurity were being underweight (AOR = 19.79, 95% CI: 1.91–204.80) and self-reporting experiencing poverty (AOR = 23.87, 95% CI: 8.78–64.90). In those who self-reported being food secure, the dietary habits reported were consistent with a poor diet.ConclusionThe poverty rate was lower than expected which could be related to the surrounding environment and perceptions around wealth. Food insecurity was approximately twice that of the general population of older adults in Canada, which could be related to inaccessibility and increased barriers to healthy foods. For those who reported being food secure, dietary habits were considered poor. While social housing may function as a financial benefit and reduce perceived poverty, future interventions are needed to improve the quality of diet consumed by this vulnerable population.
Highlights
Poverty and food insecurity have been linked to poor health and morbidity, especially in older adults
According to Statistics Canada, the proportion of seniors living beneath the Low Income Measure (LIM), a common measure of poverty, has risen dramatically from 4.7% in 2000 to 12.1% in 2017 [4], which may be due to these rising costs of living [2,3,4,5]
We sought to understand poverty and food insecurity rates, as well as the risk factors associated with both outcomes, in older adults living in social housing in Ontario, in order to inform and educate policy decisions with the ultimate goal of reducing health inequalities for this vulnerable population
Summary
Poverty and food insecurity have been linked to poor health and morbidity, especially in older adults. The Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association reported that the proportion of seniors on the waitlist for social housing, where rent is subsidized to typically equal 30% of household income, has increased from 21% in 2006 to 33% in 2014 [5]. This represents a substantial number of Ontario seniors residing in social housing currently and in the near future. It is important to understand the rate of poverty in seniors who currently reside in social housing and their ability to afford basic needs, such as food, to inform future programs and policies
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