Premium
Thinking about the Complexity of Meeting the Dietary Needs of Mexican‐Heritage Seniors in Texas Border Colonias
Author(s) -
Sharkey Joseph
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.30.1_supplement.1157.11
Subject(s) - focus group , poverty , ethnic group , empowerment , population , immigration , gerontology , food security , psychological resilience , health equity , economic growth , public health , psychology , socioeconomics , environmental health , geography , medicine , business , sociology , nursing , marketing , social psychology , economics , archaeology , anthropology , agriculture
Vulnerable groups of seniors are increasing in number and as a percentage of the older population in the U.S. This includes under‐represented groups, underserved communities, racial/ethnic minorities, and immigrants. A priority population that shares all of these vulnerabilities is the growing population of Mexican‐heritage seniors who reside in colonias along the Texas‐Mexico border. The objective of this study was to use multiple methods (focus groups and survey) to identify structural and contextual needs and assets to achieve nutritional health. Data are from fourteen focus groups ( n =95) and two surveys ( n =466 and n =489) of seniors born in Mexico; and administered in the home by trained promotoras de salud (community health workers). Conceptually, we integrated two models: one model that identifies domains of resources (individual, economic, community, and family) that influence nutritional health; and a second model that adds contextual domains (cultural, network, personal, and sociopolitical). Seniors reported low level of education, Spanish‐only language, poverty level household incomes, limited participation in nutrition assistance programs, life‐span experiences of food insecurity, high levels of food insecurity, and resilience (social competencies and cultural strategies. Focus groups gave voice to the seniors to describe their lived experience. Needs and assets identified included household and individual (food insecurity, literacy, condition of housing, individual capacity and complexity of tasks, food resource management strategies, cultural traditions, and empowerment) and colonia or community (lack of public transportation, limited access to and availability of affordable foods, community engagement, and community awareness of senior issues). Conclusions 1) seniors are key in identifying issues regarding food acquisition and food preparation knowledge and skills needed to improve nutritional health; 2) focused group discussions provide the venue for exploring individual experiences, sharing information, and determining community‐ and individual‐based strategies; 3) understanding contextual opportunities and barriers are key for increasing the knowledge and skills of seniors; 4) community prevention requires engagement of traditional and non‐traditional partners; and 5) critical for inclusion and empowerment of promotoras /community health workers. Support or Funding Information AARP Foundation (HUN‐12‐2011‐0003)