Search

We conducted a qualitative study on retirement preparedness among middle-aged and older low-income Hispanics in Los Angeles. Data were derived from four focus groups conducted in the greater Los Angeles area. Findings demonstrate how behavioral and cultural factors-family experiences, religiosity, and denial of retirement-explain the lack of savings and preparedness for retirement. Findings also indicate that the majority of participants want to be economically independent and to keep working until they are unable to do so. Participants helped their parents financially but did not feel comfortable asking their own children for help. Instead, participants placed their survival in retirement "in God's hands."

Background and Objectives The immigrant population, the primary driver of U.S. population growth, is aging and many immigrants remain uninsured. Lack of health insurance limits access to care, aggravating the already high level of depression for older immigrants. However, there is scarce evidence on how health insurance, particularly Medicare, affects their mental health. Using the Health and Retirement Study, this study examines the effect of Medicare coverage on depressive symptoms of older immigrants in the United States. Research Design and Methods Exploiting the fact that many immigrants are not covered by Medicare after passing age 65, we use a difference-in-difference model with propensity score weighting to compare differences in depressive symptoms pre- and post-age-65. We further stratify the sample by socioeconomic status and by race/ethnicity. Results Medicare coverage was significantly associated with a reduction in the probability of reporting depressive symptoms for immigrants with low socioeconomic status, especially for those below median wealth levels. The beneficial effect of Medicare coverage was also statistically significant for non-White immigrants—Black, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander—even when holding socioeconomic status constant. Discussion and Implications Our findings imply that immigration policies that expand health care protection to older immigrants can lead to further health benefits and reduce existing disparities for the aging population. Policy reforms such as providing limited Medicare access to immigrants who paid sufficient taxes but are still awaiting permanent residency status could increase coverage for the uninsured and improve participation of immigrants in the payroll system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the challenges and potential solutions for ensuring old age security in the United States and Mexico. It highlights the projected insolvency of Social Security and the need for additional sources of retirement income. The article emphasizes the importance of private retirement plans, personal savings, home equity, and property income in providing economic security in old age. It also addresses the issue of informality in the labor market and its impact on retirement savings. The article concludes by suggesting potential reforms, such as increasing participation in retirement plans, reducing informality, and exploring alternative funding mechanisms. [Extracted from the article]

This article explores the relationship between social engagement and dementia risk among Mexican Americans. The study suggests that social engagement, particularly frequent contact with family, can help protect against dementia. However, the study has limitations, such as relying on self-report measures and a small sample size. The article also discusses the importance of incorporating health and health equity into decision-making through approaches like Health in All Policies. It emphasizes the need for culturally tailored approaches in healthcare systems to address disparities in dementia treatment and support among different cultural groups. The text also highlights the impact of the digital divide on social isolation, particularly among older adults, and suggests strategies to address this issue. Additionally, the article mentions the role of age-friendly cities in supporting social engagement and provides recommendations for creating age-friendly environments. Overall, the article underscores the significance of social support and engagement in promoting health and well-being, and calls for the integration of these principles into various sectors and policies. [Extracted from the article]

Objective. We examine the socioeconomic and health drivers of retirement decisions and compare these determinants between formal and informal sector workers in Mexico. Materials and methods. Using data from the Mexican Health and Aging Study 2012 and 2015, we estimate conditional probit models of retirement using sociodemographic, health, health care utilization, health insurance, private pensions, and social security systems covariates. The Institutional Review Board at the University of Southern California reviewed and approved the research (IRB # UP-15-00023). Results. We find that the social security systems are an important determinant for retirement age for formal sector workers. The informal sector workers, who lack access to retirement benefits of the social security system, make retirement decisions mainly based on health and access to health insurance through social security. Conclusion. Despite the lack of access to social security benefits, informal sector workers do not respond strongly to socioeconomic factors in determining the timing of retirement. Strengthening access to better health care services could improve health, extend working lives, and promote healthy aging for workers in the informal sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. We developed a MHAS (Mexican Health and Aging Study) and O*NET (Occupational Information Network) linkage to allow global researchers using MHAS data to assign lifetime occupation domains for older Mexicans. Materials and methods. Three bilingual raters independently matched 440 records with 132 unique occupation codes from the 2012 MHAS. We used a modified Delphi technique to reach agreements. To assess reliability, we compared the distribution of observations between the MHAS file and the MHAS-O*NET linked file across five job categories (upper white collar, lower white collar, upper blue collar, low blue collar, and agriculture/fishing/forestry). The Institutional Review Board at the University of Texas Medical Branch reviewed and approved the research (IRB # 21-0268). Results. Using the developed 1:1 MHAS-O*NET linkage, consistency between MHAS and O*NET was 97.4% across the five job categories. Conclusion. This MHAS-O*NET linkage will allow researchers to analyze the association between lifetime occupation and multiple dimensions of health, functionality, and retirement determinants for a low-middle income country with a large proportion of workers in the informal sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mexico and the United States both face rapid population aging as well as older populations with high poverty rates. Among the most vulnerable populations of retirement age in either nation are Mexican immigrants to the United States. This work uses data from the U.S. Health and Retirement Study and the Mexican Health and Aging Study to assess retirement decisions among persons born in Mexico and working in either nation as well as such decisions by non-Hispanic Whites in the United States. Social security system incentives matter for the retirement of Mexican immigrants in the U.S. but not for return-migrants in Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]