Resource Issues in Marginalized Elderly Communities

A 2014 study by Hummer and colleagues titled “Race/Ethnicity, Mortality, and Longevity” found that both Hispanic and African Americans have higher mortality rates than white Americans, with African American mortality rat being significantly higher that the other two. Socioeconomic disparities which exist as a symptom of systemic racism and the income inequality stemming from it persist as the predominant causes of this high mortality rate among non-whites, especially African Americans. The strangest realization the aforementioned study reaches is the low Hispanic mortality rate in relation to that of African Americans.

For African Americans and Hispanic minorities whom defy their expected mortality rate to survive into an elderly age, it becomes even more difficult for them to survive comfortably as it is for most white Americans. Most have to work well into their elderly ages in order to be able to acquire the resources necessary to survive and increasing medical expenses. More needs to be done in order to assure that marginalized elderly demographics are given more resources to allow them to ease into old age with comfort and dignity.

You can read more at: https://www.asaging.org/blog/aging-minority-status-and-disability

photo by Jan Kroon