Butler writes column about victim-blaming contributing to food insecurity
Sandy Butler, professor of social work at the University of Maine, wrote a column about older adults and food insecurity that was published in the Bangor Daily News. While food insecurity has decreased nationally, Butler said the U.S. Department of Agriculture indicated it has worsened in Maine. She said society’s general prejudice against people in need contributes to food insecurity. Low-income older adults from Washington and Hancock counties whom she interviewed talked about choosing between paying for prescription medications or groceries and prioritizing bills that had to be paid versus those that could wait. “We should do all we can to ensure all people struggling to meet basic needs get the support necessary to keep themselves and their families adequately fed and healthy. At the very least, we must make sure victim-blaming policies built on prejudice and anecdotal evidence don’t contribute to life-threatening consequences for our elder neighbors and family members,” she wrote.