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NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Many of the programs set up to help elderly people afford food are not reaching those in need, results of a study suggest.

According to researchers, nearly one quarter of about 1,000 disabled women aged 65 years and older said they could not afford food. But less than 3% received home delivered meals, less than 5% attended group meal programs and only about 19% were receiving food stamps.

``Despite national programs targeted at reducing nutritional deficits in the elderly, particularly the frail elderly, many older disabled women still appear to be having difficulties obtaining adequate food,'' Dr. Lisa M. Klesges, from the University of Tennessee in Memphis, and colleagues report. Their study is published in the January issue of the American Journal of Public Health, journal of the American Public Health Association.

Minority women were more likely to report financial barriers to receiving food, the report indicates. Nearly 50% of non-white women compared with just over 13% of white women reported financial difficulty obtaining food.

The authors suggest that this finding reflects ``the depth of poverty in non-white women.''

In other findings, women who were depressed were more likely to report financial difficulties, and those who reported financial problems were more likely to be diagnosed with anemia.

``Given the high prevalence of nutritional problems reported in older disabled women, especially urban blacks, nutritional screening programs in health and social agencies need consideration,'' Klesges told Reuters Health. ``Methods to increase the availability and acceptability of nutrition programs to older Americans should be considered to prevent potential ill-health and early demise.''

SOURCE: American Journal of Public Health 2001.