Ageism, Abuse and Neighborhood Environment and Food Insecurity among Older Adults in India

SATHYA THENNAVAN, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai

Elder mistreatment and food insecurity are critical challenges affecting the health and well-being of older adults, particularly in middle-income countries like India. This study explores the association between age discrimination, elder abuse, neighbourhood environment, and food insecurity among older adults using data from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) Wave-1. The analysis focused on 31,464 older adults aged 60 years and above. Results indicate that older adults experiencing multiple forms of age discrimination are significantly more likely to face food insecurity, with a 3.6 times higher risk among those encountering two or more instances of discrimination. Older adults subjected to abuse are 2.2 times more likely to experience food insecurity. Perceptions of safety in their neighborhoods also play a crucial role, with those feeling less safe from crime or unsafe when walking alone being more likely to report food insecurity. Socioeconomic factors such as widowhood, lower education levels, wealth, and rural residence are also associated with higher food insecurity. The findings emphasize the importance of addressing ageism, improving safety, and reducing socioeconomic inequalities to alleviate food insecurity among India’s aging population. This study calls for targeted interventions focusing on enhancing the living conditions, safety, and social protection for vulnerable older adults to improve their food security and overall well-being

Keywords: Inequality, Disadvantage and Discrimination, Longitudinal studies , Neighbourhood/contextual effect analysis, Population Ageing

See extended abstract.