The U.S. aging population has grown significantly throughout the last century. By 2030, estimates show that 70 million, or 20%, of the U.S. population will be 65 or older. U.S. Hispanic population, now the largest minority, is expected to have a growth rate of 555% from 1990 to 2030. Although U.S. Hispanics are considerably younger than other U.S. minority groups and non-Hispanic Whites, the Hispanic elderly still represent a significant segment of the population numbering 2,284,279 persons aged 65 and older or about 6.4% of the population. By 2030, it is projected that the Hispanic elderly will comprise 11.2% of the United States elderly population, and by 2050, 17.5 %.

For Hispanic older adults to experience their golden years healthily and happily, however, many segments of the country must pull together to help them overcome a number of barriers. As a group, Hispanic elders have lower levels of education than their White or African American counterparts and a high chance of having two or more chronic diseases. Their first language is often Spanish and their cultural heritage and communication style are sometimes at odds with the cultures of U.S. healthcare and government systems.

The consequences of these barriers are dire. Because of low levels of English proficiency and education, older Hispanics tend to be poorer than Non-Hispanic Whites and have often spent their lives working in jobs with low income and little or no benefits. This means that they do not have access to the retirement income that many U.S. Whites have, including pensions, mutual funds, stocks, bonds, businesses and/or individual retirement accounts. They often do not have medical insurance in addition to Medicare and many have worked in conditions in factories or on farms that makes them susceptible to chronic diseases. When they do access healthcare or begin to navigate government bureaucracy to seek needed benefits, their communication style and lack of English fluency hampers their ability to get the care or benefits they need.

Older Hispanics not only need these benefits, they deserve them. Hispanics generally have a higher workforce participation rate than other U.S. ethnic groups. Often Hispanic heads of household work more than one job to support their family, with both jobs providing little in the way of wages or benefits.

Certain chronic diseases are reaching epidemic proportions within the Hispanic community, particularly as individuals age. Primary among these are heart disease, diabetes, mental health issues (including dementia) and cancers. There are measures to prevent or treat all of these diseases, but because of language, cultural and economic barriers, it is difficult for the Hispanic aging population to get the information or treatment they need. Moreover, there is a dearth of medical research conducted on Hispanics, so service providers are often forced to design programs or strategies to reach Hispanics without the research data they need to effectively create and implement programs.

As a result, the Hispanic elderly, instead of being recognized as they are a great treasure to U.S. society because of their varied experiences and wisdom could be soon seen as a burgeoning public health and economic issue. The Hispanic elderly are known for their commitment to being engaged in their families and communities. As such, they are a tremendous resource for younger generations and community organizations, able to be leaders and role models in their families and communities, as long as they are sufficiently free of economic burdens and health problems to be involved.

It is critical for communities, families and the nation to give their best to Hispanic elders, who have given so much of their lives in labor and to their families, so that these elders can enjoy their golden years in health and security. Overcoming the challenges elders face is not easy, but NHCOA has the expertise, knowledge and leadership to bring together all the segments of society on behalf of our parents and grandparents.