Older African American Women

Dorothy Smith-Ruiz is Full Professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Her research projects include Needs assessment and religious participation among African American grandparent caregivers; Mental Health and Mental Disorder among African Americans; the impact of mass incarceration on African American families; custodial African American grandmothers, and health of middle-aged and older African American women. Her recent publications include Contemporary African American Families: Achievements, Challenges, and Empowerment Strategies in the Twenty-First Century, co-authored with Sherri Lawson Clark and Marcia Watson (2017); and Black Families and Recession in the United States: The Impact of the Recession of 2007–2009 (2021) co-authored with Albert Kopak. Marcia J. Watson-Vandiver is an Associate Professor of Education at Towson University in Baltimore County, Maryland. Her research interests explore the educational experiences of Black students in U.S. schools. Her recent publications include The Healing Power of Education: Afrocentric Pedagogy as a Tool for Restoration and Liberation (2021) co-authored with Greg Wiggan; and Unbleaching the Curriculum: Enhancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Beyond in Schools and Society (2023) co-authored with Greg Wiggan, Annette Teasdell, and Sheikia Talley-Matthews. Debra C. Smith is an Associate Professor of Africana Studies and an Affiliate Faculty member in Communication Studies and Medical Humanities at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Her research and teaching focus on African-American representation in communication and popular culture, the portrayal of minorities in media and commerce, and integrating popular culture, language, and power into teaching strategies.

1. Introduction and Overview

2. Demographic and Socioeconomic Characteristics of Middle-Aged and Older African American Women

3. Theoretical Perspectives

4. Physical Health Disparities and Barriers to Health Care for Older African American Women

5. Older African American Women, Social Factors and Mental Health Disparities

6. The Social and Health Effects of Raising Grandchildren during Tough Times

7. The Great Recession of 2007-2009: Lingering Economic Effects on Intergenerational Caring Responsibilities among Older African American Women

8. The Impact of the COVID Pandemic, Education, and Housing: Challenges for Older Black Women

9.Empowering Wellness: Self-Care Practices Among Older African American Women

10. Discussion and Conclusion: Recommendations for Reducing Health Disparities among Older African American Women and their Families