Perceptions of Aging in the Hispanic Community Members in South Central United States: A Descriptive and Exploratory...

The aim of this study is to investigate perceptions of aging among Hispanic adults. Fifty participants in Texas and Arkansas were asked to take a short questionnaire including multiple-choice and Likert scale format questions. Individuals 18 and older who identified as Hispanic were included in the study. Counts and frequencies for each response were obtained. Furthermore, an exploratory comparison of responses between younger and middle-aged/older respondents was conducted. According to the results of the study, the Hispanic adults surveyed were found to have a generally positive view of aging, most frequently associating older age with the words "Wisdom" (68%) and "Experience" (12%). However, respondents still had anxieties about aging, with many answering that they feared death (41.3%), loss of independence (41.7%), and financial issues (31.3%) often or always. Additionally, the majority of those surveyed indicated that they would prefer to live with their spouse only in old age, which may reflect a generational difference in attitudes toward living arrangements. Keeping these results in mind will be essential for healthcare providers as they aim to develop culturally competent educational programs to relieve caregiver burden and support healthy aging for the rapidly growing older Hispanic population in the United States.