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The number of older Americans continues to rise. This demographic change comes with higher rates of food insecurity, as many seniors struggle to access or afford nutritious meals. Social isolation is also a growing concern, with many older adults facing loneliness and a lack of social support.
To better understand the needs and obstacles facing seniors across the country, Meals on Wheels America has analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau alongside information on senior nutrition providers funded through the Older Americans Act (OAA) and other data sources. Note: Unless otherwise specified, “seniors” and “older adults” refer to adults age 60 and older, the primary age group served by the OAA.
Get the Facts
America’s population is aging.
- Seniors account for almost one-fourth of the country’s population.
- 10.7% of older adults are Hispanic, 10.7% are Black/African American, 72.1% are non-Hispanic White and 53.9% are women.1
- 11.2% of seniors are veterans.2
Our country’s seniors aren’t getting enough to eat.
- Nearly 14 million seniors face food insecurity.3
Income limitations are a major barrier for older adults.
- 14.5% of seniors live below the poverty line, according to the supplemental poverty measure. 4
- More than half of all single seniors age 65+ lack income to pay for basic living needs, such as housing, groceries and utilities.5
Most seniors face significant health challenges.
- 62% of Medicare participants age 65+ have three or more chronic conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease.6
- Total Medicare spending exceeds $395 billion per year.7
Federally funded nutrition services support vulnerable populations.
- 38.4% of clients served by OAA-funded providers live below the poverty line.8
- One-third of clients are people of color.9
Demand for nutritious meals is outpacing funding.
- Though OAA-funded providers serve 2.6 million seniors10 each year, there are still 2.5 million older adults with food insecurity and low income not receiving meals.11
Looking Ahead
Meals on Wheels America is committed to ensuring all older adults have the support they need to live happy, healthy lives. As part of this mission, we are ramping up federal advocacy to secure sustainable funding for critical programs.
Our three federal advocacy priorities include:
- Increase funding and support for senior nutrition providers.
- Reauthorize and strengthen the OAA.
- Advance Food Is Medicine interventions and expand nutrition access and social connection for older adults.
Looking ahead, Meals on Wheels America will continue to work closely with lawmakers and stakeholders to promote policies that prioritize the well-being of older adults.
Download Fact Sheet
Citations
- U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates by Characteristics. Estimates are for the population age 60 and older in 2024
- U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) table S0102 Population 60 Years and Over in the United States. Data are for adults age 60 and over in 2024.
- Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement. Estimate is for adults age 60 and older who were considered “marginally food insecure”, “food insecure”, or “very low food secure” in 2023.
- Bureau Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic (March) Supplement (CPS ASEC) data. Estimates are for the total population age 60 and older living at or below 100% of the poverty threshold using the Supplemental Poverty Measure in the past 12 months in 2024.
- 2026 report by C. Coyle, M. Ward, N. Velasco Roldán, C. Somerville, and J. Mutchler, published by the Center for Social and Demographic Research at the University of Massachusetts Boston and titled Living Between the Lines: Economic Insecurity and Older Americans: Insecurity in the States, 2025.
- 2023 Mapping Medicare Disparities by Population tool from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
- Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) analysis of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Program Statistics data. Data are for individuals enrolled in Medicare Part A and/or B during the 2021 calendar year. Data available at the KFF State Health Facts (Total Medicare Spending).
- Administration for Community Living Aging, Independence, and Disability (AGID) Data Portal Data Explorer. Filters: Data Set: State Performance Reports (SPR) (Title III); Years: 2024; Geography: all U.S. Totals, 50 States + DC & Territories; Data Elements: Older Adult Characteristics –> Poverty–> at or below poverty AND above poverty.
- Administration for Community Living Aging, Independence, and Disability (AGID) Data Portal Data Explorer. Filters: Data Set: State Performance Reports (SPR) (Title III); Years: 2024; Geography: all U.S. Totals, 50 States + DC & Territories; Data Elements: Older Adult Characteristics –> Minority status–> home-delivered AND congregate services –> Total minority AND Total not minority.
- Administration for Community Living Aging, Independence, and Disability (AGID) Data Portal Data Explorer. Filters: Data Set: State Performance Reports (SPR) (Title III); Years: 2024 (national), 2024 (states); Geography: all U.S. Totals, 50 States + DC & Territories; Data Elements: Older Adults Persons and Units –> Total Persons by Service –> Congregate Meals and Home Delivered Meals, Older Adults Persons and Units –> Total Persons Served by Service –> Congregate Meals and Home Delivered Meals.
- Meals on Wheels America calculations from the 2021 CPS Food Security Supplement. Data include adults age 60 and older who were categorized as having income below 185% of official poverty line and experienced “Low food security” and/or “Very low food security.”
