'Here the Refrigerator is Empty': Food Insecurity among Puerto Rican Elders

The authors documented, described, and explained the food insecurity experiences of Puerto Rican elders, particularly how they perceive and give meaning to this phenomenon.

The food insecurity experiences of 50 Puerto Rican elders (≥65 years) were collected using a mixed-methods approach. Qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews, and quantitative data were obtained from a 22-item questionnaire. The data were integrated with a convergent design.

92% of the participants were food insecure. Puerto Rican elders' food insecurity experiences have four components (quantity, quality, social, and psychological) and a common pattern of fourteen manifestations.

Food insecurity in Puerto Rican elders has causes that go beyond the economic access to food. Addressing food insecurity should be a priority of integrated national food and nutrition policies to reduce the nutritional health inequities among this population. This study presents the first in-depth examination of food insecurity among Puerto Rican elders residing in Puerto Rico, focusing on their cultural interpretations of the phenomenon.