Minority Aging Research Paper
Written Assignment 1
The aging statistical profile I chose was of the American Indian and Native Alaskan population within the “Minority Aging” section.
1. As the United States becomes more racially and ethnically diverse as the overall minority population grows, there is in an increase in minorities within the elderly. As the data was scarce for Native American elderly population, I decided to compare and contrast all of the minority sub groups. In 2011, 21.0% of persons 65+ were members of racial or ethnic minority populations. Because research has shown that people of ethnic and racial backgrounds have poorer health outcomes, the growing population is sure to bring in a higher prevalence of illness among minority populations.
2. When
comparing these sets of data, I first noticed that almost 37.9 million Americans were aged 65 and over in 2007 including 212,605 of those being American Indian or Native Alaskan. The Native elderly population made up only .6% of the older population in the United States. This number was surprising as I grew up near an Indian Reservation in Eastern Oregon, so my perception of the population was relatively skewed.
3. In 2008 the African American (or Black) elderly population was 3.2 million in 2008, projecting to exceed 9.9 million by 2050. In 2008, African Americans contained 8.3 percent of the older population. By 2050, the percentage of the older population that is African American is projected to account for 11 percent of the older population. The African American populations have seen higher rates of heart disease and stroke, diabetes, as well as for certain cancers, and the rising numbers of the African American population will likely put a strain on the health systems, as will the entire aging population.
4. The Asian, Hawaiian and Pacific Island older population was over 1.3 million in 2008 (3.4% of the older population) and is projected to grow to over 7.6 million by 2050. By 2050, the percentage of the older population that is Asian, Hawaiian and/or Pacific Islander is projected to account for 8.6 percent of the older population.
5. The Hispanic older population was 2.7 million in 2008 and is projected to grow to over 17 million by 2050. In 2008, Hispanics made up 6.8 percent of the older population. By 2050, the percentage of the older population that is Hispanic is projected to account for approximately 19.8 percent of the older population. Interestingly, the Hispanic population aged 65 and older is projected to be the largest racial/ethnic minority in this age group by 2019!
Works Cited
"Aging Statistics." Administration on Aging. Web. 02 Apr. 2014.
The aging statistical profile I chose was of the American Indian and Native Alaskan population within the “Minority Aging” section.
1. As the United States becomes more racially and ethnically diverse as the overall minority population grows, there is in an increase in minorities within the elderly. As the data was scarce for Native American elderly population, I decided to compare and contrast all of the minority sub groups. In 2011, 21.0% of persons 65+ were members of racial or ethnic minority populations. Because research has shown that people of ethnic and racial backgrounds have poorer health outcomes, the growing population is sure to bring in a higher prevalence of illness among minority populations.
2. When
comparing these sets of data, I first noticed that almost 37.9 million Americans were aged 65 and over in 2007 including 212,605 of those being American Indian or Native Alaskan. The Native elderly population made up only .6% of the older population in the United States. This number was surprising as I grew up near an Indian Reservation in Eastern Oregon, so my perception of the population was relatively skewed.
3. In 2008 the African American (or Black) elderly population was 3.2 million in 2008, projecting to exceed 9.9 million by 2050. In 2008, African Americans contained 8.3 percent of the older population. By 2050, the percentage of the older population that is African American is projected to account for 11 percent of the older population. The African American populations have seen higher rates of heart disease and stroke, diabetes, as well as for certain cancers, and the rising numbers of the African American population will likely put a strain on the health systems, as will the entire aging population.
4. The Asian, Hawaiian and Pacific Island older population was over 1.3 million in 2008 (3.4% of the older population) and is projected to grow to over 7.6 million by 2050. By 2050, the percentage of the older population that is Asian, Hawaiian and/or Pacific Islander is projected to account for 8.6 percent of the older population.
5. The Hispanic older population was 2.7 million in 2008 and is projected to grow to over 17 million by 2050. In 2008, Hispanics made up 6.8 percent of the older population. By 2050, the percentage of the older population that is Hispanic is projected to account for approximately 19.8 percent of the older population. Interestingly, the Hispanic population aged 65 and older is projected to be the largest racial/ethnic minority in this age group by 2019!
Works Cited
"Aging Statistics." Administration on Aging. Web. 02 Apr. 2014.