The Health of Aging Hispanics: The Mexican-Origin Population - Hardcover

by Jacqueline L. Angel (Editor), Keith E. Whitfield (Editor)

The emergence of the Hispanic population in the United States and the incre- ing pro?le of Latin America on the North and South American continents have raised the pro?le of "Latino" issues in the American consciousness. Much of this attention, however, has revolved around trends in culture, art, food and music or pathological concerns about poverty, crime, drugs, and immigration. At best, the scholarly and policy assessments of the implications of the impact of Latinos in the United States revolve around Mexican-Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Central Americans(aswellasthechildrenofanolderCubanpopulation)andtheirstruggles toachieveameasureofeducation, healthcare, employment, andcivilrights. What have not been adequately addressed are the demographic trends affecting Latinos in the United States, Mexico, and Latin America, particularly the aging of the H- panic population and its resultant health and long-term care needs. That Latinos are living longer and shifting from a youthful population to an increasingly older cohort is little known, except among the small cadre of Hispanic gerontologists. Ironically, this invisibility of aging Hispanics is juxtaposed to the almost p- icked response of the U. S. media and public toward the aging of the general U. S. population and the ?scal and political controversies over Social Security, Me- care, and health care costs. The policy debates of an aging U. S. population as a whole arise from substantial research and policy analysis--a level of attention not seen with regard to the aging of the Hispanic population.

Back Jacket

The Health of Aging Hispanics: The Mexican-Origin Population

edited by

Jacqueline L. Angel

University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas

and

Keith W. Whitfield

Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania

The population of the United States, like that of most other nations, will age rapidly well into the 21st century. By 2025, at least one-fifth of the population in 15 countries in the Americas is to be age 60 or over. Additionally, as the result of high immigration and fertility rates, as well as improvements in life expectancy, the United States Census Bureau projects that by 2050, the total number of non-Hispanic white aged 65 and over will more than triple, and the number of Hispanics in this age bracket will increase eleven fold. Despite these demographic facts, there is a significant dearth of information about the unique strengths and characteristics that underrepresented minority possess and experience as they age. Further examination of these understudied groups, especially among Hispanics - now the nation's largest minority group - offers the possibility to promote healthy aging for the entire nation.

In this unique volume, contributions provide initial information on numerous factors that affect the health security of Mexican-origin families and individuals as they face the burdens of decline in health status and caring for children and the elderly simultaneously, including health issues before and after immigration. Also included is material addressing important issues related to the contemporary political debate on immigration and healthcare reform in the United States and Mexico. In the coming decades, collections such as this will be critical to develop a better understanding of how immigration from Latin America, Asia and Africa to the United States produces health disparities in our aging population.