Reflections of an aging Chicano boomer: Growing old in the time of demographic transformation

Abstract

This article examines the aging of Latino boomers and illustrates the longevity, policy, and personal challenges and opportunities facing the coming of age of the post–World War II generation of Latino/as. This treatise, through a reflective lens, posits that with segmented assimilation we can no longer generalize the aging of Latinos as one universal reality based on immigration from rural backgrounds and the existing literature based on traditional cultural norms. The reality is greater variations in how we view the aging process and how we address concerns of health and retirement security and long-term care. We must move beyond notions of perpetual youth to one where we face existential questions: What are the roles and expectations of the new elders in the Hispanic community? What lessons can we impart to younger Latinx cohorts? The author draws on policy analysis to reflect on philosophical questions of Latino/a boomers facing their demographic and longevity destiny.