Policy & Practice | Summer 2024

research corner

By Jackie Budilov and Anam Bhatti

Using Behavioral Science to Normalize SNAP Among Older Adults

F ood security steadily improved among older adults for a decade, but this progress reversed course in 2022. 1 That year, 11.8 million seniors were food insecure—a 25 percent increase from the previous year. Among older adults of color, the situation was worse, with food insecurity among American Indian and Alaska Native, Hispanic, Black, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders surging nearly 40 percent. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) plays a crucial role in alleviating food inse curity and reducing health care costs among older adults. SNAP participa tion leads to fewer hospital visits, emergency room visits, and long-term care admissions. 2 Despite its benefits, only 37 percent of eligible adults aged 50 and older are enrolled in SNAP. 3 Given low enrollment rates, the AARP Foundation conducted research to better understand barriers to applying for SNAP and identify effective marketing messages that motivate people to apply. In an online survey of nearly 1,500 older adults likely to be eligible for SNAP in Texas and Georgia, three out of four respondents were not participating in the program. Commonly cited reasons for low SNAP enrollment include lack of program awareness, stigma asso ciated with it, and confusion about eligibility requirements. 4 This survey found awareness was not a significant issue: 85 percent of respondents not enrolled were familiar with SNAP, but stigma and confusion about eligi bility requirements were found to be important barriers.

themselves using SNAP) and 127 percent more likely to have moderate to-high community stigma (negative feelings about others using SNAP), compared to those who were enrolled in the program. The survey also tested marketing messages that sought to counter stigma, developed using behav ioral science research to emphasize factors that motivate human behavior change. Survey participants were asked to evaluate the messages,

Many older adults fear judgment and hold negative perceptions about receiving government assistance. This stigma, combined with ingrained social norms valuing self-reliance and independence, can discourage eligible older adults from seeking help. Using a self-reported stigma question naire, the AARP Foundation survey found that older adults who were not enrolled in SNAP were 44 percent more likely to have moderate-to-high self-stigma (negative feelings about

Illustration by Chris Campbell

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Policy & Practice Summer 2024