The Experience of Immigration and Aging on the Health of Older Adults in the El Paso, Texas, Border Region

Abstract

Healthcare access continues to be a problem for immigrant populations in the United States, especially for Latino immigrants at the US-Mexico border. There is limited social research examining the experience of access to health care of older adult Latino immigrants during their life course in the U.S. In U.S.-Mexico border communities, documented and undocumented residents face unique experiences when accessing health care. This thesis focuses on understanding the intersectionality of the immigration process and health care access of older adult Latino immigrants on the U.S.- Mexico. Using qualitative data collected from participants living in the County of El Paso, Texas, I identified the unique pathways older Latino immigrants face when accessing health insurance and health care on both sides of the border, and the role of support systems.