Food Accessibility and Insecurity Among Rural Seniors
A THREE-YEAR STUDY THAT EXAMINES FOOD INSECURITY AND ACCESSIBILITY AMONG RURAL SENIORS
Study Details
Gateway CERH has partnered with the University of Guelph to examine food insecurity and rural seniors in Huron, Perth, Bruce, and Grey Counties. This partnership consists of a three-year study and is conducting its final year of research that examines the relationship between food and seniors.
The first phase explored food insecurity amongst rural seniors from a service provider lens. It included healthcare professionals, home care workers, public health and government officials, and other service providers. To learn more about this first phase of research, click on the two reports below.
The second phase of the project hopes to gain a snapshot of the food insecurity and accessibility challenges among seniors. This study explores regular eating patterns, food consumption, food insecurity experiences, accessibility to food, and the adequacy of the diet. It also explores possible changes between the relationship with food and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Adequate nutrition is part of a healthy lifestyle, but just as important, adequate nutrition is critical for people who live independently or maybe manage chronic disease.
The overall study will help address concerns maintaining and improving the health and quality of life of the rural senior population to support rural seniors to live more independently.
We are pleased to share that we have completed the second phase of the study have interviewed 80 participants (20 per county) from June 2021 to November 2021. We are now analyzing the data and look forward to sharing the results.
Interested in the overall final report?
If you are interested in receiving a summary report in April 2022, you can contact the following people:
By email or phone: Casandra Bryant, Project Manager at 416-892-8065 or casandra@gatewayruralhealth.ca
By email: Dr. Al Lauzon, Principal Investigator at allauzon@uoguelph.ca
Partners
Gateway CERH has partnered with the University of Guelph to examine food insecurity and rural seniors in Huron, Perth, Bruce, and Grey Counties. This partnership consists of a three-year study and is conducting its final year of research that examines the relationship between food and seniors.
The principal researcher for the study is Dr. Al Lauzon at the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, at the University of Guelph. This study has been reviewed and approved by the University of Guelph Research Ethics Board (REB#21-01-012) for compliance with federal guidelines for research involving human participants.
REPORTS/ARTICLES
Phase One Report:
Food Insecurity Amongst Rural Seniors: An Exploratory Study in Huron, Perth, Bruce and Grey Counties. Key Findings from County and Stakeholder Analyses. (August 2019). Valerie Steckle and Emma Warren. PDF - Click here.
Article:
The Rural Elderly, Food, and the Healthcare System. A Discussion Paper. (May 2019). Al Lauzon. PDF - Click here.