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Minority Ethnic Profiles of Older Adults in the United States

By Ilana Israel SOC of Aging

+Introduction

“By 2050, one in four people age 65 and older in the United States will be of minority decent” (U.S. Census Bureau, 1995).

Elder ethnic minority profiles in the United States focusing on Hispanics, Asians, African Americans and Native Americans with Whites being the reference group.

+What Are Your Views of Aging Ethnic Minorities?

Ethnicity most affected by institutionalized racism

Top two causes of death

+Ethnicity Profiles

Hispanics

Asians

African Americans

Native Americans

Information Includes: poverty levels, expanding growth population, importance of tradition and family, problems associated with aging as a minority.

+Hispanics

In 2008 there was a population of 2.7 million and it has been projected that the population will grow to 17 million by 2050 (Administration on Aging, 2010).

7.1% of older adults in the US are Hispanic

Live with family

Income and lower socioeconomic status (SES)

Lack of medical care

+Asians

3.6 % of total elder population

Positive view on aging, live with family, sense of wisdom and importance

Higher medium income than White population $48,000 to $44,000

Still higher poverty rate at 12.1% to 9.7% in 2010

Healthy practices, but not one to seek medical help

Institutionalized racism

+African Americans

8% of the entire African American population are elders

By 2050 older population is expected to quadruple to more than 15% of the entire African American population

Issue of 65 plus being older adults, some say it should be 55 plus

Very low SES

Social support and family

+Native American

Elder population was 232,042 in 2009 and is expected to grow to 918,000 by 2050

Community living hinders the access to health care

Traditional medicine along with western medicine

Native Americans see the elders as being the “heart and soul” of the family, leads to positive views on aging

Three-generation households

+Major Comparisons

Two leading causes of death are heart disease and cancer

All four minority cultures have stronger connections with their family members and tend to attach a sense of wisdom and honor on their elder population

Lower SES across the board is seen in the problems they have with health care and institutionalized racism

+Conclusions

Minority populations are growing and the need for affordable good health care, economic support and health education is becoming more important

Minority populations are going to become the majority population

Most important improvement that needs to happen is rural and affordable health care

The treatment overall of the minority elder population is an important aspect in this changing population

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Questions ?

+Sources

Photo Credits

- http://www.natcom.org/CommCurrentsArticle.aspx?id=747

- http://falmouthinstitute.com/training/unscheduled/ss/SS067.html

- http://www.laplacita.info/everyday-health-and-well-being/

- http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/asianamericanhealth.html

- http://www.nationalturk.com/en/ethnic-minorities-becoming-u-s-majority12559