In August 2025, NCOA surveyed more than 2,300 older adults (92% of whom reported being 60 or over) to better understand respondents’ knowledge of needs related to nutrition and joint health, their confidence in their knowledge of nutrition and physical activity, and their own experiences related to nutrition and joint health.

What’s really shaping older adults’ nutrition habits

Out of the 2,332 respondents, the survey revealed key insights, including: 

• 71% of respondents cited affordability as the primary reason for not choosing to purchase healthy food.
• Nearly half (48%) of respondents said it was somewhat hard, hard, or very hard for their household to regularly get and eat healthy foods in the previous 12 months.
• After affordability, respondents cited mobility challenges or physical limitations (22%) and food assistance qualification issues (20%) as the main obstacles to not eating healthy foods.
• Three-quarters of respondents reported feeling joint discomfort in the previous two weeks, and of those people, 59% took a pain reliever and 58% stretched or did yoga to feel better.
• Most respondents were knowledgeable about weight loss, nutrition, and joint health.
• The majority were unsure about how to calculate their protein needs.

Why eating healthy feels out of reach for older adults

According to the survey, 71% of respondents reported difficulty eating healthy in the last 12 months because healthy foods were out of their budget. With food prices continuing to rise, these findings are especially troubling as more people find themselves unable to afford healthy food. The USDA’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) found that, in 2025, prices for all foods were expected to rise by 3%. Food-at-home prices (like groceries) were expected to increase by 2.4%, and food-away-from-home prices (like restaurants) were expected to increase by 3.9%.

These price increases matter because they compound the financial pressures many older adults already face. For example, a recent NCOA study found that low-income older adults die nine years earlier than their higher-income peers, often because they can’t afford basic living expenses or long-term care. Survey respondents in the NCOA/LeadingAge LTSS Center @ UMass Boston report also said healthy food is out of reach financially, highlighting how the growing wealth gap and affordability make it harder for older adults to manage and support their health.

Older adults and their families can check to see if they are eligible for food assistance and other benefits to help them afford daily expenses by visiting NCOA’s free and confidential BenefitsCheckUp® website. Our online tool connects people to programs that can help them stay healthy and independent. By answering a few anonymous questions, users receive a personalized report of public and private programs they may qualify for, as well as steps on how to apply. 
 

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