Elderly to turn to food pantries when SNAP benefits are cut

Support for elderly important

If our communities learned anything from the pandemic, it’s that we can come together to support each other in tough times. We made new connections and tried new ideas.

Older adults in our communities were impacted most severely by the pandemic; it prevented many from being connected and engaged in their communities as they sought to stay safe. Our Area Agency on Aging network quickly realized how fortunate our communities are to have so many older adults serving as volunteers as they stopped being able to contribute out of concern for their own safety.

Besa volunteers Rob Lyons (in green coat) and Chris Hobbs (far right, in green poncho) and other unidentified volunteers help deliver Adopt a Senior gifts in 2019 at the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging.

More:Holiday gift-giving program for elderly carries added resonance amid coronavirus pandemic

One of the supports Ohioans rely on is the food assistance program known as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). During the pandemic, programs such as SNAP have responded to the greater need. An increase in monthly SNAP benefits has had a significant positive impact for older Ohioans.

More:Meals on Wheels needs volunteers to handle demand tied to COVID-19 pandemic

The enhanced benefits will soon end, but the need will continue. Older Ohioans will soon represent close to a quarter of all food pantry visits statewide. We need Ohio’s leaders to consider immediate investments so we are prepared when these enhanced benefits end. For the longer term, we need sound public policy and innovative approaches to improve How our society supports us all as we age. We are all aging, and this is important to us all.

Beth Kowalczyk, Chief Policy Officer, Ohio Association of Area Agencies on Aging, Columbus

Share your thoughts:How to submit a letter to the editor for The Columbus Dispatch

Elder abuse awareness

Americans believe in justice for all. Yet we fail to live up to this promise when we allow older adults to be abused or neglected. Older people are vital, contributing members of our society and their maltreatment diminishes us all. Just as we have confronted and addressed child abuse and domestic violenceso too can we find solutions to address elder abuse.

More:‘More than 200,000 Ohioans age 60 and older experience some form of elder abuse.’ What to do about it

June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. On that day, communities all over the world will highlight solutions to this systemic social challenge. SourcePoint is proud to participate in this national conversation.

Elder abuse is widespread. Every year an estimated 1 in 10 older Americans are victims of elder abuse. In Delaware County, Adult Protective Services investigated 88 reports last year. Unfortunately, that’s only part of the picture: Experts believe that elder abuse is significantly under-reported. Research suggests that as few as 1 in 14 cases of elder abuse come to the attention of authorities.

The good news is we can prevent and address the issue. While we are fortunate in Delaware County to have comprehensive aging services and strong community partners, we know we must do all we can to Strengthen the social support structure, reduce social isolation, protect individualsand build a community that lives up to our promise of justice for all. I invite you to read how to make a difference by visiting ncea.acl.gov.

To report abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an adult age 60 or older in Delaware County, call 740-833-2340.

Fara Waugh, Delaware

Columbus-NYC connection

A May 29 article, “Walking high, Downtown,” noted that a project to be built Downtown will be modeled after the High Line in New York City.

More:Downtown Commission approves elevated walkway with plants, benches

Our daughter, Lisa Switkin, RLA, senior principal at James Corner Field Operations, a 1992 graduate of Bexley High School, was the lead designer of all three phases of NYC’s High Line.

The Columbus connection will now be firmly further established for the forseeable future.

Shelly & Linda Switkin, Bexley