Poor diet among older people is an important public health issue, particularly as malnutrition contributes to increased morbidity and mortality. Research suggests that older adults are particularly vulnerable to a compromised nutritional intake due to a range of physical, economic and social factors which influence food access, choice and behaviour. As a result, CARDI funded a study on demographic and socio-economic influences on food expenditure as part of its data mining programme in 2011. The resulting report, Age, income and food in Ireland (Bantry White et al., 2011) seeks to contribute to the emerging evidence base on food poverty and diet in older Irish people. It examines the demographic and socio-economic influences on food expenditure in the older populations in Northern Ireland (NI) and the Republic of Ireland (ROI).

Read the research briefing paper here.