Researcher studies seniors' struggle with food security

Posted: October 16, 2013 10:35 a.m.

Nuelle Novik presents at a workshop. Novik is a University of Regina social work professor and researcher with the Saskatchewan Health and Evaluation Research Unit (SPHERU). Photo courtesy of Nuelle Novik

University of Regina social work professor, and researcher with the Saskatchewan Health and Evaluation Research Unit (SPHERU), Nuelle Novik is drawing attention to seniors struggling with food security. Novik has been conducting research funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), and recently, working together with representatives from the Regina Education and Action on Child Hunger (REACH), the Regina Food Bank, the North Central Community Association, and the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region, hosted a workshop on the issue.

“The fact of the matter is that there are seniors who are living in poverty,” said Novik. “When you take a look at the fact that our population is aging, and when you take a look at the projections from Statistics Canada, this is an issue that needs to be looked at.”

Novik says a lack of income, community supports, access to food and transportation are all reasons why seniors are not eating as well as they should be.

 “It saddens me. It disturbs me, said Novik. “Now as seniors, with the potential to be more vulnerable, and many of them are, as a society we are kind of dropping the ball.”

Novik is hopeful her work will encourage further debate and discussion on the topic. She is busy conducting similar workshops across the province.