SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – A study done by Retirement Living found that more than seven percent of seniors in our state are hungry and living without consistent access to food.
Experts said that not having consistent access to food makes it nearly impossible for them to live a long and healthy life.
Executive Director of Senior Citizens Incorporated, Patti Lyons, said a country is judged by the way they take care of their youngest and their oldest citizens and we are failing them.
"We get a lot of calls from people saying I don't have any food in my house," Lyons said.
Georgia ranks number five in the country when it comes to the number of senior citizens who are hungry and can't afford to put food on their table.
"The percentage of people that are here that are over the age of 65 is one out of four, and so, you know, you've got all this massive amount of people," Lyons said. "You've got limited support coming in, and now prices are going up."
Lyons told WSAV that federal funding allows non-profit groups like Meals on Wheels, to delivers meals for over 1800 seniors in our community. For some, it is their only source of nutritious food. Lyons believes the focus should be on keeping the elderly healthy. She said in the end — those costs less for everyone.
"We can feed somebody for an entire year with meals on wheels for what it costs for one day in the hospital or five days in a nursing home," Lyons said. "It just makes sense that we put our investment in being proactive. Let's take care of them, keep everybody healthy versus paying so much more when they're unhealthy."
Lyons said that more needs to be done for one of the largest populations in America and that instead of being supported — some seniors are being neglected.
"It's all of our problems; it's all of our responsibility to help our neighbors," she said. "And when you have spent your life building the country that we all have the pleasure of living in, you should support those people. A country is judged by how it takes care of its youngest and how it takes care of its oldest, and we are failing the older adults in our community."
There are ways you can help. You can volunteer your time or money with Meals on Wheels or other non-profits dedicated to helping the older population. Click or tap here for resources on how to get involved.