Did you know!?
By Dr. W. A. Merritt
African American senior citizens represent a minority group in the United States. They have seen a lot of changes in the course of their lifetime, but still face adversity in some situations
The Good and the Bad
African American senior citizens
have witnessed vast
improvements in social and
economic status over the past decades.
From the civil rights movement in the 1960s, to electing the first African American president in 2008, these seniors have
been a part of many significant events offering
increased opportunities.
However, the senior population, and
the population as a whole, still faces serious struggles and instability, such as low income and lack of financial security.
A recent report, Severe Financial Insecurity Among African American and Latino Seniors, showed that African American seniors and other minorities are especially at risk for lack of health care and living in poverty. These problems include:
• Health costs: Many African American
seniors simply cannot afford health care
and out -of-pocket medical expenses.
This creates more senior health
problems, such as an increase in
diabetes in this group.
• Housing costs: The
high housing costs put many
African American and other
minority seniors at risk for
losing their homes, or being
sent to a nursing home.
• Lack of savings: Many
people in this group do not
have the savings in place or the
financial resources to cover all of their expenses. Also, many African American seniors continue to live with a lower quality of life despite the awareness and implementation for equal rights.
.
African
American seniors and other minorities are especially at risk for lack of health care and living in poverty.
Image from the Severe Financial Insecurity Among African American and Latino Seniors, report.
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