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Racial And Ethnic Minority Diversity

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Racial and Ethnic Minority Diversity Minority populations are increasing in the future, therefore awareness of the unique needs of this aging population is imperative in shaping social programs and ensuring equitable successful aging. Four ethnic groups make up the largest minority proportions in the United States: Hispanic, Native American, African American, and Asian. Although there are many similarities when comparing income and poverty rates, health outcomes in aging, and the family unit, there is variety within each group giving rise to great diversity.
Both Hispanic and Native Americans tend to live in multi-generational households. Adult children provide care for aging parents; proportionately Hispanics have a disproportionately higher rate of caregiving perhaps due to Native American’s experiencing higher rates of poverty. One study highlighted that 67% of Hispanic elders lived with their family or within two miles (as cited in Novak, 2012, p. 180), whereas 50% of Native American elders relied on family supports (Novak, 2012, p. 191). Most grandparents in both groups receiving care, also provide care for their grandchildren. Additionally, grandparents pass down the oral cultural traditions to their families. Conversely, those Hispanic subgroups that realize the most independent living are Cubans perhaps because of greater access to education and higher incomes (Novak, 2012, p. 185-186). Overall, the rate of informal support for elders in both ethnicities is

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