Food stamps: Many Utah seniors shun them - or lack information - and admit hunger

[ccharles000]

Most nights around 5 p.m., Eldon Hendricks walks a few blocks from his Salt Lake City apartment to dine on a burger bargain fit for a retiree's wallet. At $3.22 for two Arctic Circle burgers, fries and a bottomless drink, the fast food feast is about all his budget allows.

This is what it's like to be old in Utah for thousands of seniors: Eating well is a luxury they can't afford. Some cross pricey items, such as meat, off the grocery list. Others choose between prescriptions and food, putting their health at risk.

But few turn to the federal government's food stamps program for help while participation in the program by families and middle-aged adults has skyrocketed.

"Nobody told me anything about that,"

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_14855066

[aquart]

1. Are these Mormons?

Their church is letting them starve?

[kestrel91316]

7. My elderly grandmother, raised Mormon but rather poor in her old age,

was routinely hounded by the local LDS for DONATIONS or TITHING or whatever, even though she hadn't been a practicing Mormon in many decades. They never OFFERED her any help. My grandfather banned them from setting so much as a toe on his land but after he died they came back.

[freeplessinseattle]

14. yet I am always hearing how the Mormons "take such good care

of each other." I was a kid when I lived in SLC, but I know some of my friends were food needy and had multiple siblings. I lived in a basic middle class neighborhood but was remember when we raided cupboards for an after school snack I was shocked that at least two of my neighbor friends had little to eat, and what they did have wasn't that healthy.

One time I remember my friend with 8 siblings made mac-n-cheese with Miracle Whip instead of milk bc they were out-I thought it was nasty but she'd made it before and liked it well enough. If you're hungry enough with few options...My other friends often made noodles with tomato soup for dinner (the cheapest soup you can get). They liked my house bc we had real cheese, for instance (no Velveeta) and a garden. Never ever saw fresh produce at my friends'-you'd think the church would at least have some community garden or food bank, I'm really not sure what the whole "taking care of each other" rep is about. Maybe just emotional support and prayer, who knows.

I also remember Arctic Circle-yuck x10.

[JDPriestly]

16. The Mormons I have known grew up canning food from their gardens.

And I am quite sure that just a couple of years ago, Mormons were very generous with their sectarian welfare within the Mormon community. As I understand the system, needy Mormons can request aid from a Bishop. I suppose if someone is not in good standing in their church, then aid is not available.

[freeplessinseattle]

17. things can change in 20+ years..or we're just from different areas?

maybe in recent years they are lending more of a helping hand to their members, rather than asking them to sacrifice so much.

Hard to believe that coincidentally my neighbors both were in "poor standing", whatever that means. My friend's family with the 8 siblings were the most religious I knew-I was supposed to call her mom "Sister Smith", and they were one of few families in the neighborhood that observed family home evening on Mondays.

Another neighbor's dad was a manager at Arctic Circle, oddly enough, I remember going to a birthday party there for her and thought the food was gross. Her mom watched me sometimes while my mom worked-she liked the tomato soup for lunch too. Tried to force-feed it to me in fact, maybe that's why I had negative feelings about that place, and the food, lol.

In all seriousness, maybe some wards were more helpful with resourceful information, and some neighborhoods more into gardening-my dad and grandfather were in the minority for having a vegetable garden I know that (we lived down the block from them).

[CreekDog]

22. When I went to BYU, some fellow students were yelled at by the Bishop for not tithing enough

meanwhile my pastor was telling me I shouldn't be donating the $5/week I was giving because I was a student with no income.

:shrug:

[kestrel91316]

19. They "take care of" members by getting their noses all up in their

personal business.

[aquart]

18. That shocks me.

I see so much work being done by religious organizations to help seniors...especially with the loneliness...but also helping with paperwork and connecting to the right social services... That a church with such a tight hold on its people would let this segment go...shocks me.

[kestrel91316]

20. I don't think the Mormon church approves of "other" social services,

that is those outside church hierarchy. Members might find out alternate viewpoints and learn to trust non-mormons if they utilized them.

[aquart]

21. Fine. So let them pick up the slack.

[SoCalDem]

2. Many times, seniors can go to REAL restaurants, and have a good meal

and enough to have another at home the next day from the doggie bag.

And if they go for the "early-bird" dinner or use a coupon, two can eat for nearly the same price as one, and each can still have leftovers..

It's easier to have the $3.22 burger, but it's not necessary for most people.

As long as restaurants are still serving the HUGE portions, it makes sense to take advantage of their portion sizes.:)

We eat at a Steer & Stein near us occasionally and almost EVERYTHING on their menu is large enough to give us that second meal the next day. I just add a small salad & some fruit and we're good to go:)

and for that same $3.22( or very close to it), he could have gotten several meals from spaghetti made at home.. a lb of ground beef, a lob of pasta & a jar of spaghetti sauce would not cost much more, or taken much more time than it took him to walk/drive to that burger place:)

[ZeitgeistObserver]

13. I'd guess there are other things involved.

Frail hands aren't good for lifting a pot of water, boiling or otherwise. And some seniors forget how to cook things, or forget to turn the stove off. That frightens them.

Plus there are elderly men who've never learned how to cook even a simple meal.

And this is a way to get out for a bit, to maybe the only social life available.

[Mind_your_head]

3. Accepting food stamps in a time of need is a sin

dripping :sarcasm:

[SoCalDem]

4. I think a lot of older people associate it with "being on the dole"

and many have heard the myths of how burdensome it is to fill out all the paperwork. Actually for seniors it's much easier since all/most of their income is easily verified, and many (most?) have no other income.

My own mother-in-law's income qualified her, but she too refused to apply.. why?

her words:

"I can cook up my own food very cheaply..as long as I can afford the food, I don't need help".. She preferred to babysit for extra money

[zalinda]

5. It's because they are ashamed

Period. And a lot of times the social workers don't make it easier for them.

zalinda

[Mind_your_head]

8. Social workers are some of the kindest, most understanding people...

and they don't JUDGE.

They just offer the help that's available and tell people how to get it/apply for it.

[Kali]

9. um, not all of them

had some bad experiences more than once in the past

[Mind_your_head]

11. Sorry to hear that. What was your bad experience? n/t

[Kali]

15. complicated income/expense situation

and then not accepting the only documentation available (copies of receipts) the decisions were made by one individual, were completely arbitrary, and much more stringent that even the IRS required. The attitude of the entire office at the time would be hard to convince anyone of, much less the particular worker I was dealing with. (and this was all after we had already qualified for a quarter - I was trying to re-up at least for the kids for another quarter - no changes, just a new office)

I'm pretty sure part of the problem was my attempt to simply acquire medical assistance and refuse the other benefits we were possibly eligible for. I appealed the decision but by that point had become too emotional and borderline irrational about the whole situation. And they did the hearing by speakerphone where I had to sit alone in a room with the problem individual and not have any chance to speak to the arbitrator (judge?) alone. It wasn't very civilized but I had had it with the condescending and humiliating attitude. I felt really sorry for the less "abled" clients that had to face that office and especially that individual. I still have the heebee jeebees about that office. I can feel my hackles going up just writing this.

[Kali]

10. how about a system that demands proof of who lives in the home

by requiring statements from landlords or unrelated neighbors?

[Mind_your_head]

6. Okay.....her choice not to take advantage of a really good program

that if she qualifies for it, would keep a coupla thousand dollars more in her purse.

[napi21]

12. We don't live in Utah (thank God) but my husband wouldn't

even consider food stamps or welfare. He's from an upbringing that puts shame on things like that. Many, many years ago he was laid off & we had no income for almost an entire month. I took our two kids to the agency and applied for food stamps. We were approved right away and they came in the mail in two days. When I went shopping, he refused to even go into the store when I was going to use them. I don't look at it that way. I worked almost every day since I was 16 and I'm now 66. I believe I contributed to these programs and if the time comes when I need any of them & am eligible, I'm going to take advantage of them!