Skip to main content
Log in

Public policy implications of an ethnically diverse elderly population

  • Published:
Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Social, economic, and health care trends demonstrating the rapid growth and diversity of elderly minority and ethnic groups have long-term repercussions for social support service systems in the United States. Current public policies designed for a homogeneous elderly population must become more flexible and must recognize and accommodate the needs of an increasingly diverse American society.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References Cited

  • AARP 1990 Healthy Aging: Making Health Promotion Work for Minority Elders. Washington, DC: American Association of Retired Persons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ahlburg, D.A. and M.J. Levin 1990 The Northeast Passage: A Study of Pacific Islander Migration to American Samoa and the United States. Pacific Research Monograph Number 23, National Center for Development Studies, Australian National University. Canberra, Australia: Australian National University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barker, J. 1990 Private communication.

  • Bass, S.A., E.A. Kutza and F.M. Torres-Gil, Eds. 1990 Diversity in Aging. Glenview, IL: Scott, Foresman and Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bouvier, L. and A. Agresta 1985 The Fastest Growing Minority. American Demographics 7:30–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burkhauser, R.V. and G.J. Duncan 1988 Life Events, Public Policy, and the Economic Vulnerability of Children and the Elderly. In The Vulnerable. J. Palmer, T. Smeeding, and B. Torrey, eds. Pp. 55–88. Washington, DC: The Urban Institute Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chee, R. and R. Kane 1983 Cultural Factors Affecting Nursing Home Care for Minorities: A Study of Black American and Japanese-American Groups. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 31(2):109–112.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coe, R.D. 1988 A Longitudinal Examination of Poverty in the Elderly Years. The Gerontologist 28(4):540–544.

    Google Scholar 

  • Commonwealth Fund Commission 1989 Poverty and Poor Health Among Elderly Hispanic Americans. Baltimore, MD: Commonwealth Fund Commission.

    Google Scholar 

  • Congressional Quarterly 1989 Deficit-Reduction Bill Offers $14.7 Billion in Cuts. Congressional Quarterly December 16: 3442–3453.

  • Crimmins, E.M., Y. Saito and D.G. Ingegneri 1987 Changes in Life Expectancy and Disability-Free Life Expectancy in the United States. Population and Development Review 15:235–267.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cubillos, H.L. and M.M. Prieto 1987 The Hispanic Elderly: A Demographic Profile. Washington, DC: National Council of La Raza.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cuellar, J.B. and J. Weeks 1980 Minority Elderly Americans: The Assessment of Needs and Equitable Receipt of Public Benefits as a Prototype for Area Agencies on Aging, Final Report. San Diego, CA: Allied Home Health Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dressel, P.L. 1988 Gender, Race, and Class: Beyond the Feminization of Poverty in Later Life. The Gerontologist 28(2):177–180.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gelfand, D.E. and C.M. Barresi 1987 Current Perspectives in Ethnicity and Aging. In Ethnic Dimensions of Aging. D.E. Gelfand and C.M. Barresi, eds. Pp. 5–17. New York: Springer Publishing Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • General Accounting Office 1988 Health and Nutrition: Collection of Vital Statistical Data on Hispanics. GAO/HRD-88–68BR. Washington, DC: General Accounting Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gordon, M. 1964 Assimilation in American Life. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harel, Z., E. McKinney and M. Williams 1987 Aging, Ethnicity, and Services: Empirical and Theoretical Perspectives. In Ethnic Dimensions of Aging. D.E. Gelfand and C.M. Barresi, eds. Pp. 196–210. New York: Springer Publishing Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, C.L. 1987 Two Worlds in Conflict: The Elderly Hmong in the United States. In Ethnic Dimensions of Aging. D.E. Gelfand and C.M. Barresi, eds. Pp. 79–95. New York: Springer Publishing Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayes-Bautista, D.E., W.O. Schink and J. Chapa 1988 The Burden of Support: Young Latinos in an Aging Society. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holden, K.C. 1988 Poverty and Living Arrangements Among Older Women: Are Changes in Economic Well-Being Underestimated? Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences 53(1):S22-S27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hurd, M.D. 1989 The Economic Status of the Elderly. Science 244:659–664.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hyde, J.C. 1990 General Accounting Office Releases Funding Formula Study. Minority Aging Exchange 2(5):1–2.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, JJ. 1980 Minorities and Aging. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, JJ. 1985 Race, National Origin, Ethnicity, and Aging. In Handbook of Aging and the Social Sciences. R. Binstock and E. Shanas, eds. 2nd Edition. Pp. 264–303. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim, P. 1983 Demographics of the Asian-Pacific Elderly: Selected Problems and Implications. In Aging in Minority Groups. R. McNeely and J. Colen, eds. Pp. 29–41. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirschten, D. 1990 Critiquing the Count. National Journal July 21, No. 30: 1832–1835.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kitigawa, E. and P. Hauser 1973 Differential Mortality in the United States: A Study in Socioeconomic Epidemiology. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kramer, B.J., Hyde, J.C. and D. Polisar 1990 Study of Urban American Indian Aging. Final Report: Administration on Aging Research Grant No. AR0118. City of Industry, CA: The Public Health Foundation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kravitz, S.L., Pelaez, M.B., and M.B. Rothman 1990 Delivering Services to Elders: Responsiveness to Populations in Need. In Diversity in Aging. S.A. Bass, E.A. Kutza, and F.M. Torres-Gil, eds. Pp. 47–72. Glenview, IL: Scott, Foresman and Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kutza, E.A. 1990 Responding to Diversity: Is American Society Capable? In Diversity in Aging S.A. Bass, E.A. Kutza, and F.M. Torres-Gil, eds. Pp. 101–128. Glenview, IL: Scott, Foresman and Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lacayo, C.G. 1980 A National Study to Assess the Service Needs of the Hispanic Elderly. Final Report. Los Angeles, CA: Asociacion Nacional Pro Personas Mayores.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindemann, M.M., J. Benavidez and E.E. Chapleski 1988 1987 Needs Assessment of the Hispanic 60 and Over Population in the State of Michigan. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lubben, J.E. and R.M. Becerra 1987 Social Support Among Black, Mexican, and Chinese Elderly. In Ethnic Dimensions of Aging. D.E. Gelfand and C.M. Barresi, eds. Pp. 130–144. New York: Springer Publishing Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Markides, K.S. 1987 Minorities and Aging. In The Encyclopedia of Aging. G. Maddox, ed. Pp. 449–451. New York: Springer Publishing Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Minkler, M. and R. Stone 1985 The Feminization of Poverty and Older Women. The Gerontologist 25(4):351–357.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moody, H.R. 1990 The Politics of Entitlement and the Politics of Productivity. In Diversity in Aging. S.A. Bass, E.A. Kutza, and F.M. Torres-Gil, eds. Pp. 129–150. Glenview, IL: Scott, Foresman and Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Association for Hispanic Elderly 1987 Improving the Quality of Life for Aged Hispanics and Other Older Americans. Los Angeles: Asociacion Nacional Pro Personas Mayores.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Center for Health Statistics 1990 Health, United States, 1989. Hyattsville, MD: Public Health Service.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Indian Council on Aging 1981 American Indian Elderly: A National Profile. Albuquerque, NM: National Indian Council on Aging.

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Shaughnessy, C. 1990 Older Americans Act Programs: Brief Summary, Funding Levels, and FY 1991 Budget Request. CRS Report for Congress 90–200 EPW. Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, The Library of Congress.

    Google Scholar 

  • Radner, D.B. 1987 Money Incomes of Aged and Nonaged Family Units, 1967–84. Social Security Bulletin 50(8):9–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Siegel, J. and C.M. Taeuber 1986 Demographic Dimensions of an Aging Population. In Our Aging Society: Paradox and Promise. A. Pifer and L. Bronte, eds. Pp. 79–110. New York: W.W. Norton & Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smeeding, T.M. 1986 Nonmoney Income and the Elderly: The Case of the Tweeners. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management 5(4):707–724.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stanford, E.P. 1990 Target Populations: Older Americans Act Reauthorization 1991. Minority Aging Exchange 2(3):4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Torres-Gil, F.M. 1990 Private communication.

  • Torres-Gil, F.M. and J.C. Hyde 1990 The Impact of Minorities on Long-Term Care Policy in California. In California Policy Choices for Long-Term Care. P. Liebig and W. Lammers, eds. Pp. 31–52. Los Angeles, CA: University of Southern California.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trevino, F.M. and A.J. Moss 1984 Health Indicators for Hispanic, Black, and White Americans. In Vital and Health Statistics. Series 10, No. 148. Washington, DC: US Public Health Service, National Center for Health Statistics.

    Google Scholar 

  • US House of Representatives 1987a Planning for an Aging America: The Void in Reliable Data. Comm. Pub. No. 100–645. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • US House of Representatives 1987b Reauthorization of the Older Americans Act: The Plight of the Undeserved. Comm. Pub. No. 100–619. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • US House of Representatives 1987c The Status of the Black Elderly in the United States, Comm. Pub. No. 100–622. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • US House of Representatives 1988a Demographic Characteristics of the Older Hispanic Population. Comm. Pub. No. 100–696. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • US House of Representatives 1988b Improving Minority Participation in Older Americans Act Programs. Comm. Pub. No. 100–89. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • US House of Representatives 1989 Expansion of Community-Based Services to Special Populations. Comm. Pub. No. 101–725. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • US Senate 1989 Aging America: Trends and Projections. Information Paper to the Special Committee on Aging, United States Senate. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • Warlick, J.L. 1985 Why Is Poverty After 65 a Women's Problem? Journal of Gerontology 40(6):751–757.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weeks, J. and J. Cuellar 1981 The Role of Family Members in the Helping Networks of Older People. The Gerontologist 21:388–394.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Support for this research was provided by the National Resource Center on Minority Aging Populations and award number 90-AM-0339 from the Administration on Aging, US Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration on Aging policy.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wray, L.A. Public policy implications of an ethnically diverse elderly population. J Cross-Cultural Gerontol 6, 243–257 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00056761

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00056761

Key Words

Navigation