Our Chicago: Feeding seniors in need amid SNAP program changes
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Food costs are rising, changes are being made to the SNAP program, and some social service organizations say that's creating a potential crisis for seniors across Illinois.
AgeOptions serves more than 480,000 older adults across 130 Chicago area communities. Those services include community and home-delivered meals.
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According to AgeOptions, more older adults than ever are turning to SNAP and other food assistance programs. But it is becoming more difficult to meet those needs.
"We have a variety of options in terms of delivery in suburban Cook County as well as across the state," said AgeOptions President and CEO Diane Slezak.
In Cook County, they deliver meals either five or seven days a week.
"But we are hitting up against a wall. Before the pandemic, in suburban Cook County, we delivered about 1 million meals per year. And at the height of the pandemic, and shortly after, we were up to 3 million meals. And that number has never decreased back to the original figures completely before the pandemic. That's because the need has gone up. The cost of food has gone up. You know, older people can't afford the cost of many food items anymore, and healthy food in particular is more expensive," Slezak said.
Slezak says delivering food to seniors helps keep them in their homes and out of nursing or other long-term care facilities.
Illinois state Sen. Kimberly Lightford was her mother's caregiver for a time and turned to AgeOptions.
"It certainly better serves the state, because nursing care is much more expensive than the home meals program. For me, it was important, because just any little help is good when you're trying to care for a loved one," Lightford said.
Lightford says food assistance helps prevent people from having to make tough decisions, such as whether to pay a particular bill or whether to eat.
"So, it's really important that the state continues to make a significant in home delivery meals," Lightford said.
Currently, AgeOptions is asking the state for an additional $10 million in funding. Slezak says the money could make a big difference for her organization and the seniors it serves.
"Currently, our waiting list statewide is growing. It's at about 500, but we are also having to ration meals for seniors. In other words, seniors who have been receiving seven meals per week or even a little bit more than that are now being reduced in terms of the number of meals. That's happening the same time that SNAP benefits are being cut back for them," Slezak said.
With the legislative session about to wrap up, Lightford says this issue is critical.
"If you don't have nutrition, you really don't have much. If you don't have good health, you really don't have much. This is one of the most vulnerable populations that we must take care of as a state," Lightford said.
The statewide helpline for seniors is 1-800-252-8966.
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