This is a sponsored partnership between Centrum and LatinaMoms.com
How do Latinos understand senior living? For starters, the Latino community is traditionally raised to take care of their elders. But how has this expectancy changed over time?
The truth is that Latino life expectancy is increasing
In Latin America, it almost feels like the conception of old age is paradoxical. We have been raised with the idea that life is a race against time, while the Latino life expectancy has been steadily increasing. In fact, a recent study found that nationally, Latinos are projected to live 2.7 years more than ten years ago.
Knowing this, how do Latinos understand senior living? Do they think of economic independence or autonomy in this life stage? Do we?
Communication is key
I know it’s not only my mom who sees her children as her financial help once she reaches a certain age. If this sounds like your current situation, we suggest talking to your loved elders as soon as possible. Let them know that we’re mothers too, and we have to make a realistic plan for their retirement and our families.
There will be a time when they can no longer do everything alone. If this sounds like your current situation, we suggest a plan to have a caretaker watching over them.
Now that we have significant studies pointing out that Latinos’ age is increasing, we must have conversations about senior living to ensure their lives are taken care of with as much respect as our families.
What else can we do?
We need to talk gently and openly about these situations. We must not only map out our elders’ needs but also align them with our personal lives. We are also mothers and wives – point blank: we have our own stresses to prioritize. While this sounds like a lot to do, it’s crucial to be strong enough to start these conversations sooner than later.
If not us, then who will start these discussions?