Dr. Haider Khan, founder of the Tampa Florida based BKH Humanitarian Foundation, CHS Center of India, and Community Humanitarian Service Center, has explained the state of the funding for meal programs for seniors in America in a new article.
By 2020, 56 million Americans will be 65 and older; by 2050, that number will reach 84 million. The oldest population of Americans (over 85) is on pace to triple by 2040. Nearly 70 percent of Americans who reach 65 will be unable to care for themselves at some point without assistance.It is a known fact that millions of senior citizens living in America are going to bed without a meal as the policies designed to help them fall short of meeting demand. Over 8% of all Americans (around 5.5M seniors) aged 60+ have no steady access to food to meet their nutrition requirements. This number has grown 2x times since 2001 and will only increase as the American population ages further.
Dr Haider Khan explains that the Southwest and Southern regions are most affected by this problem. Over 12% and 17% of senior citizens in Louisiana and Tennessee respectively are facing a food insecurity crisis. He also added that government relief programs are woefully inadequate. The Older Americans Act was modified in 1972 to provide group and home-delivered meals to senior citizens; however, a rising senior population and economic inflation have rendered this insufficient for meeting current requirements.
Malnutrition prevents healing and exacerbates diseases; senior citizens without nutritious, steady food may have to be admitted into a hospital, which drives up Medicaid and Medicare costs, which provides taxpayers with higher bills. Seniors may also relapse quickly after being discharged.
Dr. Haider Khan is doing his best to see that older Americans are well cared for. His organizations provide programs that feed the hungry, provide medical attention to the needy, and offer educational prospects to communities. In providing services for a broad demographic of local citizens in the Tampa community, the specific needs of the senior population are considered.
For more information, please visit: https://www.explosion.com/133986/dr-haider-khan-in-tampa-the-state-of-funding-for-meal-programs-for-seniors-in-america/
