Hispanic adults 50 and older constitute a remarkably diverse population and one deeply rooted in cultural heritage, with shared experiences that foster a sense of unity. Values, the Spanish language, food and music serve as powerful cultural expressions. And, despite varied goals, aspirations, needs and concerns, they collectively navigate the experience of aging in the United States at 50 and beyond. This shared journey underscores the importance of amplifying older Latinos’ perspectives on their multifaceted lives.
Through a multi-phase study that consisted of a three-day qualitative online community exploration and an online survey, AARP Research heard from older Hispanic adults about their life experiences. The study highlighted a diverse population bonded by a commitment to family, a joy and connectedness found in Hispanic culture and community, pride in their identity and community achievements, and concerns over health and finances. As a majority immigrant population (56 percent) living in the United States for an average of over 30 years, many express how they fluidly integrate Hispanic culture into their American life.
Why we did this
Illuminating the lives of Americans 50 and older through human-centered insights is foundational to AARP’s mission of empowering people to choose how they live as they age. Hispanic adults 50 and older are integral to the American cultural fabric, shaping its rich history, present and future. There are 15 million Hispanic adults 50 and older in the United States, and this number is projected to grow to 19 million by the end of the decade constituting 15 percent of the 50-plus population. By bringing forward research that foregrounds the intersection of Hispanic ethnicity and age, our goal is to highlight the voices of older Hispanic Americans: their mindsets, priorities, concerns and needs throughout their aging journey, while acknowledging that personal Latino identities are shaped by differences in geographic origin and locale, native-born experiences and immigration histories, and other factors.
The heart of the matter: salud, dinero, y amor
Top priorities reflect salud, dinero, y amor — six in ten prioritize maintaining physical health (63 percent), keeping loved ones safe (58 percent) and financial security (57 percent). Other top priorities include maintaining mental and emotional health (54 percent) and staying mentally sharp (52 percent). While individual priorities and motivators vary, for many they are shaped by a collective mindset, with family — the top personal value by far at 59 percent — as the driving force behind health and financial behaviors. For instance, most older Hispanic adults approach staying healthy as a need in terms of being able to support their family. Similarly, financial goals of budgeting and saving are often approached while thinking about their family’s financial well-being.
Over a quarter live in a multigenerational household and believe it improves family bonds. Love and obligation also lead many to be caregivers to both adults and grandchildren. Nearly a quarter (23 percent) care for an adult, and 26 percent of grandparents provide care for a grandchild regularly. Grandparents express taking an active role and feeling that part of their job as abuelos is to instill Hispanic culture and tradition in their grandkids.
Worries and concerns
What issues weigh on the minds of older Hispanic adults? For one, the power of deeply felt connections and close-knit family ties means losing loved ones is very worrying to 51 percent of older Hispanic adults. Four in ten are extremely or very worried about their family’s well-being when they pass. Having enough money to be secure for the future (44 percent) and current financial pressures (35 percent) are also top worries. Related to financial concerns, 2 in 3 do not have money in a workplace retirement savings account such as a 401(k) or an individual retirement account (IRA) outside of work, highlighting gaps in access to retirement savings vehicles. Of those currently working, over half (57 percent) plan to work during retirement or not retire at all.
Worries are also shaped by societal concerns, with 3 in 4 feeling stressed by the economy, and world and U.S. events. Those who predominantly speak Spanish and self-rate their English proficiency as low are especially likely to say racial and ethnic discrimination is a source of stress (58 percent vs. 43 percent overall). They are also more likely to worry about their safety (41 percent vs 23 percent overall). These differences further demonstrate the diversity of experience within the population.
Hablar en español
The Spanish language remains an important aspect of cultural identity for many older Hispanic adults. Spanish is seen as an emotional and expressive language that facilitates family and cultural connection, with many feeling a commitment to motivating younger generations to embrace the Spanish language. English is more likely to be spoken at work and outside of family and personal engagement.
While bilingualism represents the largest language subgroup (59 percent), just under 1 in 5 speak English only (17 percent) and nearly a quarter (23 percent) primarily speak Spanish with low self-ratings of English proficiency. Bilingual adults 50 and older can be disaggregated into native or fluent Spanish speakers (36 percent) and those less proficient in Spanish (23 percent), according to self-ratings of language proficiency. Overall, considering both monolingual speakers and fluent bilinguals, 6 in 10 live much of their personal lives in Spanish while 4 in 10 live much in English. The research further demonstrates that language use is extremely diverse across and within language subgroups and varies substantially by the environment and situation.
Qualitatively, some English-dominant Latinos confessed to feeling frowned upon by other Hispanic adults for not speaking Spanish fluently, while those who speak mostly Spanish also face judgment and challenges in navigating English-dominant situations.
Faith and religion
Faith is closely tied to cultural identity and heritage for many. Religious beliefs can provide both connection and hope. Faith is the second personal value after family, with 6 in 10 saying faith is a critical or important part of their life. For these individuals, not only does faith offer strength and resilience in the face of challenges, religious institutions also enable connections to community.
Not a monolith
While there is much that Hispanic adults 50 and older share, they have diverse backgrounds, perspectives, priorities and concerns. They represent a spectrum of connection to culture and language use. To illuminate the diversity among Hispanic adults 50 and older, five personas were developed through analysis of the survey data, each described by where they derive their strength: family, faith, biculturalism, security, and personal well-being.
Methodology
The research was conducted in two phases. First researchers met with 33 Hispanic adults 50 and older in an online community. This group included a mix of genders, language levels, and countries of origin. Participants could choose to participate in English or Spanish. A subset of six then participated in 60-minute webcam interviews. The second phase consisted of a 20-minute online survey of 1,141 Hispanic adults 50 and older, administered in English and Spanish. It was fielded by C+R Research, in collaboration with NORC, from February 6 to March 25, 2024.
For more information, please contact Sarah Kerman at skerman@aarp.org. For media inquiries, please contact External Relations at media@aarp.org.