Where to Retire? Experiences of Older African Immigrants in the United States

Manka Nkimbeng, Alvine Akumbom, Marianne Granbom, Sarah L. Szanton, Tetyana P. Shippee, Roland J. Thorpe and Joseph E. Gaugler
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Manka Nkimbeng: Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, 420 Delaware St SE., Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
Alvine Akumbom: Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, 525 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
Marianne Granbom: Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, 22100 Lund, Sweden
Sarah L. Szanton: Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, 525 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
Tetyana P. Shippee: Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, 420 Delaware St SE., Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
Roland J. Thorpe: Hopkins Center for Health Disparities Solutions, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
Joseph E. Gaugler: Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, 420 Delaware St SE., Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 3, 1-17

Abstract: Doubling in size since the 1970s, the aging needs of the African immigrant population are not fully understood. This qualitative study examined experiences of aging and retirement planning for African immigrant older adults in the United States (U.S.). Specifically, it explored the factors, processes, and ultimate decision of where these older adults planned to retire. Secondary analysis of semi-structured interviews with 15 older African immigrants in the Baltimore–Washington Metropolitan area was conducted. Data was analyzed using thematic analyses in NVivo. The majority of participants were women, with a mean age of 64. Three overarching themes with ten sub-themes were identified. The themes included: (1) cultural identity, which indicated the participant’s comfort with the U.S. society and culture; (2) decision making, meaning factors that impact participants’ choice of retirement location; and (3) decision made, meaning the final choice of where participants would like to retire. Age-friendliness for immigrant older adults in the U.S. is complex and it includes traditional domains such as physical and sociocultural environment (e.g., housing, transportation, and income). However, immigrant age-friendliness also needs to include wider contextual aspects such as political climate of their country of origin, immigrant status, family responsibilities, and acculturation in the U.S. More research is needed to better understand and facilitate age-friendly environments and transnational aging of immigrant older adults.

Keywords: older adults; African immigrants; retirement; aging-in-place; age-friendliness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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