Food Insecurity Amongst Older Adults: Cohort Analysis and Alternative Measurement

The prevalence of food insecurity among older adults (individuals aged 60 or older) increased steadily from 2001 to 2011, peaking in 2012, before gradually declining but not returning to pre-Great Recession levels. Research indicates this increase was primarily driven by younger older adults (those below age 80), suggesting potential cohort effects linked to the adverse economic impacts of experiencing the Dot-Com Bubble Recession, the Great Recession, and the Covid-19 Recession during their prime working years. While food insecurity is often assessed using binary measures, such approaches may overlook nuances in the severity of food hardships. Using data from the Current Population Survey (CPS)-FSS (Food Security Supplement) and the Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC) from 2004 to 2023, we investigate generational changes in food insecurity amongst older adults using an age-period-cohort (APC) analysis. Additionally, the research uses a traditional binary indicator along with three additional measures, including a binary variable for needing more money and two continuous variables that capture the amount of additional money required to meet basic needs and the extent of the food insecurity gap. The findings reveal a generational shift, with later birth cohorts experiencing higher rates of food insecurity and requiring greater financial resources to meet basic needs, especially the Baby Boomer generation (born between 1946 to 1964). The study also suggests that the latest Baby Boomer generation (born between 1960-1964) spends more money on food, indicating a change in their food behavior, which may be attributed to their need for more money to meet their basic food needs.