Chicago DiversityRecent Census data revealed that there are more than 56 million people aged 60+ in the United States. These seniors are an increasingly diverse group, as evidenced by the following according to information provided by the National Council on Aging:

American Community Survey data shows that 5.5 million older adults (14%) have a primary language other than English. Spanish is the most common language spoken by this group, but nearly 55% of seniors for whom English is not their primary tongue speak languages that range from fairly common to lesser known languages, including:

  • Chinese.
  • Russian.
  • Vietnamese.
  • Korean.
  • Tagalog (the language of the Philippines).
  • Native American languages—e.g., Navajo, Apache.

Nearly 4 in 10 of older adults who speak another primary language speak English “not well” or “not at all.” Over half of LEP seniors have incomes below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).

Nearly 4.6 million older adults were born outside of the United States; almost half a million came here within the last decade. For many of these seniors, the benefits, programs, and services offered in their communities and under Medicare may be wholly unfamiliar to them. Yet because 38% of foreign-born seniors live below 200% FPL, many are eligible for assistance that can improve their health and economic well-being.

Today, 15% of older adults identify with religions other than the three most common groups (i.e., Catholicism, Mainline, and Evangelical Christianity). Moreover, religious affiliation and activity tends to be higher among seniors, particularly those with lower incomes.