At least one in nine seniors is at-risk of going hungry due to the inability to obtain sufficient food for their household or having to choose between food and medical care1. During September, Hunger Action Month, Comfort Keepers® is asking the community to make food donations to the STOP Senior Hunger food drive to help local seniors and raise awareness for this growing epidemic that impacts millions of older Americans trying to remain healthy and independent.
“Hunger Action Month is in September, but seniors go hungry all year,” said Lori Eberly,owner of the Salisbury Comfort Keepers franchise. “We cannot fight every factor affecting hunger, but we can start here in our community by creating awareness about the issue and helping family members become more aware of the signs of hunger and malnutrition.”
Hunger can lead to malnutrition and other serious health problems in seniors. In fact, it is estimated that as many as 85% of seniors in the care of others are at risk for malnutrition or undernutrition. Malnutrition is the result of the body not absorbing enough nutrients due to inaccessibility. Signs of malnutrition may include sudden weight gain or loss, bruising, or dental difficulties, sudden changes in taste, or a general disinterest in eating. For seniors, malnutrition means the potential for increased hospital stays, increased health complications, early entry into assisted living facilities and premature death.
In response to a growing need for awareness about senior hunger, the Comfort Keepers system has launched a nationwide campaign called STOP Senior Hunger to create awareness for the importance of a healthy diet for those 65 and over. This senior nutrition campaign aims to help seniors preserve their independence by providing diet and nutrition information, encouragement and necessities.
In the local market, Comfort Keepers is accepting food donations Monday through Friday 9a-5p at their office located at 512 Klumac Rd, Ste 2, Salisbury NC 28144.
For more information on the local STOP Senior Hunger campaign, please contact your local Comfort Keepers office at 704-630-0370, email lorieberly@comforteepers.com, or visit www.stopseniorhunger.com.