Grandfamilies Cut Across Class and Ethnic Groups, Particularly Prevalent Among African Americans

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    Caregiving provided by grandparents serves as a safety net for children in need of parenting regardless of race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. Approximately 2.9 million grandparents make breakfast, organize their grandchildren’s activities, arrange doctor’s appointments, help with homework, and worry about how they are going to afford college coupled with their everyday household expenses.

    Since the 1970s, the number of grandparents raising grandchildren in the United States has rapidly increased. Sometimes grandparent caregiving is a formal arrangement, including foster care or adoption. Many times, grandparent caregiving is an informal arrangement that might occur in a multi-generational home or take place outside of the family home due to social conditions such as addiction, incarceration, child abuse, neglect, and even the death.... Read More

                 

    Elder Abuse Won’t Stop By Itself

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    Approximately 1 in 10 Americans aged 60+ have experienced some form of elder abuse. Broadly defined, elder abuse is any form of mistreatment that results in harm or loss to an older person. More specifically, the World Health Organization defines elder abuse as “a single, or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person.”

    The legal definition of elder abuse varies from state-to-state.

    Elder abuse affects people from all ethnic backgrounds and social status, and most victims of abuse are women.  Elder abuse may be physical, emotion, sexual, exploitive, neglect, or abandonment. Specifically defined:

    Physical abuse includes inflicting, or threatening to.... Read More
                 

    Set a Goal, Make Time, Be Determined, and Change Your Life for Good

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    Health-related goals are indeed popular New Year’s resolutions. Most of us make a resolution to lose weight and exercise more. However, for many of us, the path to good health is not an easy.  Procrastination, family obligations, work demands, or a lack of time can hinder the most well-intended resolution.

    America is getting heavier.

    Despite public awareness campaigns and other efforts to get people to watch their weight, obesity has taken a significant toll on communities of color and low-income families. When it comes to African American obesity rates, the U.S Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health report African American women have the highest rates of being overweight or obese compared to other groups in the.... Read More

                 

    What Affordable/Accessible Housing Options Exist for Diverse Elders?

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    America’s older population is in the midst of unprecedented growth. As the baby boomer generation continues to experience increased longevity, the 50 and over population is projected to increase about 20 percent by 2030 or to about 132 million people. In just 15 years, one in five people will be at least age 65. Ensuring that this demographic continues to experience affordable and accessible housing that offers a sense of community as well as other services and supports that enables them to remain active and productive members of society has taken on a new urgency not only for individuals and their families, but also for the nation as a whole.

    For some people, staying in their current homes works..... Read More

                 

    Remain Connected to Our Loved Ones

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    The living arrangements of America’s older population are important because senior isolation has become an alarmingly common phenomenon, and will continue to increase as the older population continues to grow.

    Regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation, nobody relishes the prospect of aging without a spouse, family member, or a friend at their side during crisis or to simply share a laugh. All older adults — including African American seniors who live alone in communities that are geographically and economically isolated from economic opportunities, services, and institutions — are extremely vulnerable to the next calamity, be it from terrorism or a natural disaster.

    Nothing causes seniors to experience a greater decline in health and emotional well-being than social isolation..... Read More

                 

    Battle Misinformation and Stand Up for the Affordable Care Act (Black History Month)

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    In honor of Black History Month, the Diverse Elders Coalition is featuring stories relevant to black aging during February. A new story will be shared every Wednesday, with additional posts shared throughout the month. Be sure to visit diverseelders.org regularly during the month of February.

    Black history month reminds us that African Americans come from ancestors with a legacy of overcoming obstacles far and wide. Five decades since the oppressive days of Jim Crow, African Americans have a lot to celebrate— achievements in science, business, government, medicine, arts, sports, and a two-term elected president of the United States who delivered on his promise to provide universal healthcare to all Americans.

    Affordable_Care_Act_100413Read More