How Society Must Adapt to Meet Our Needs
The older adult population in the U.S. is increasingly diverse and serving them requires a better understanding of their unique backgrounds and experiences.
If there’s one thing I learned during my Gerontology master’s program, it’s that the older adult population in the U.S. is increasingly diverse and serving them requires a better understanding of their different backgrounds and experiences.
These are historic times! According to the ACL’s 2023 Profile of Older Americans, by 2040 the number of older adults who identify as non-Hispanic White will decline from 75 percent to 60 percent. Hispanic, Asian American, Black, Native American and multiracial older adults are set to increase between 76 percent to 118 percent depending on the demographic. This group demands more than a cookie-cutter approach to care. The data means all of us need to sharpen our empathy and understanding, when we’re drafting policies or legislation, advocating for services, designing programs or outreach services or doing the hardest work of all – family caregiving. Every step along the way requires professionals and care providers to consider the multilayers of factors that influence every individual’s situation.
The ACL study showed women, who statistically outlive men, make up nearly 60 percent of the 65+ population. LGBTQ+ adults are also on the rise although it is a more difficult number to track. Understanding the increasing diversity of older adults is essential. It shapes how needs are identified; services are delivered and outcomes are achieved.
As the U.S. demographic landscape continues to shift, organizations and individuals that can’t adapt to these changes or recognize differences risk are becoming irrelevant to the communities they serve. Approaches ensure services are person-centered and aligned with the lived experiences of all older adults. And that’s a Grand Plan that works for everyone!
