Successful aging in the American South : Racial/ethnic differences in Perception

1. Successful aging in the American South: Racial/ethnic differences in Perception Meredith Troutman-Jordan PhD, PMHCNS-BC Mary A. Nies PhD, FAAN, FAHB Boyd Davis PhD University of North Carolina Charlotte

2. Objectives 1. Identify themes in older adults’ descriptions of successful aging. 2. Describe activities and ways of thinking/adapting that may encourage successful aging. 3. Identify similarities and subtle nuances that differentiate successful aging in Southern Black and White older adults.

3. Background Older adults are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population. Older adults from all minority racial/ethnic groups are expected to experience more rapid population growth than Whites. Internationally, researchers have examined the meaning of successful aging to older adults in several countries. Successful aging is clearly a personal experience that differs for different groups of older adults.

4. Southern Older Adults About a third of all older adults in the U.S. live in the southern states (Cotter & O’Quin, 2007) The population aged 65 and older in NC increased by 20% between 2000 and 2010 (NC Division of Aging and Adult Services, 2011). By 2030, the state’s older adult population will have grown 55% from 2000 (NC Division of Aging and Adult Services, 2011). People aged 65 and older in NC have a lower life expectancy, higher poverty rate, and lower average education and income than many of their national counterparts (NC Department of Health and Human Services Division of Aging, 2003).

5. Methods Specific aims: Describe what older Southern adults in NC and SC consider to be successful aging; Conduct an initial analysis to identify the differences and commonalities Participants Data Collection Demographic information The researcher reviewed ground rules and each session was audiotaped. Focus groups

6. Data Analysis Demographic and quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS (14.0). A thematic content analysis was done. Open coding Focused coding Validity check with Linguist Member checking

7. Results

8. Themes Four central themes to describe successful aging: Connecting and relating Temporality Perception and interpretation Activity.

9. Connecting and Relating Three subcategories: Spirituality Friends and social Spouse I feel like God has a plan and He’s the one that’s setting it in motion. And you live one day at a time, and if something happens that’s in the plan, it’s not your plan, maybe, but I feel like it’s for a reason.” “living one day at a time, trusting the Lord.” “doing my part; God is more powerful than us” “A lot of females out there, widows. But I know quite a few who have I think significant others, come to think of it, I don’t think that any of these attractions have resulted in marriage. . .

10. Temporality Impressions of the past Family and history Future generations. I stayed under my grandmother’s feet and learned as much as I could. I learned how to sew, cook and tend house from my grandmother. She raised me. I know that my childhood was full of hard times and we were very poor. But we were honest, hard working people and we did not mind following the ways of living in southern Georgia, where I grew up.” I think that it is important for young people to slow down and realize how precious life is. These young people do not seem to take things seriously.

11. Perception and Interpretation Mental/cognitive Recognize shortcomings—don’t stress, make high goals (having and making) Choices Like things simple, make a decision and leave it alone Don’t get mad, get even Adjusting(behaviors, ways of being) Used to hit that good old bottle. . . but I quit drinking and smoking. . . been married 36 years” and now volunteer Diabetes is normal now, checking it daily with medicine

12. Activity Mobility I walk every day, just a little short walk around the block, because I have discovered that by not walking my balance is gone. Independence I like doing stuff on my own as much as possible. I do not bother people, you know how they say old people be worrying them exercise, if you raise a garden you know you get your exercise Nutrition Getting older you know that your body is decreasing and you take a few vitamins, especially my C and B vitamins I know it’s (diet) scary but I try to stick to it

13. Southern Region Being black and living in the south was a challenging thing, but we made it because we did not bother anyone and we minded our own business. It was difficult because it was 12 of us but we did it and my father made sure that we kept a roof over our heads and had food to eat. We did not have meat every night but we did have something to eat. . . We were poor but we were a proud family. It has always been a struggle as a Black person, but me and my family have not let that stop us from anything. We never let being Black hold us back from. It was hard and we had some hard trying times but we made it.

14. Discussion and Implications Socioeconomic status influence These findings are consistent with how other Black older adults have characterized successful aging. There were more commonalities than differences in these Black and White Southern-dwelling participants’ accounts, though there were some differences. Connection and relating-varied interventions Function of friends and family divergent Temporality and perception Southern influence

15. Conclusion The Southern older adult population is increasing and diversifying, making it imperative to design health promotion interventions that are tailored to this regional group. As a beginning, it may be helpful for providers to incorporate interventions such as those suggested here to promote successful aging in Southern older adults. This study yields some insights, elucidating target areas for promoting successful aging.

16. And the Journey Continues. . . Meredith Troutman-Jordan PhD, PMHCNS-BC UNC Charlotte MeredithTroutman@uncc.edu (704)687-7963 Source References available on request Thank you for your time and attention