There is a US Latinx population segment with overlapping challenges with older “baby boomers” regarding “grey gaps”, and that straddles the era of fast technological innovation with their knowledge and praxis. At 19% of US people, Latinxs of all ages live across the nation, and elderly Latinxs will be more numerous. Such a trend is important for ethnic/racial/age population profiles of the future. “Gen Jones” is an age group wedged between boomer and X generations, and has lived under different monikers. Gen Jones can be easily forgotten when only conceptualized as the tail-end of the baby boomer generation. We highlight complementary generations using trend data from the US Census, Pew Research, National Institute on Aging, and other relevant sources. We further illustrate practical technological challenges connected to society’s aging bias with auto/biographical examples. We authors-scholars are advancing in our aging journeys, facing hard lessons, and welcoming inspirations about becoming old. We offer thought questions for companies, agencies, organizations, programs who may/may not yet offer specialized services for ethnic group, language minority elders. Some private/public entities may not yet consider elder clients who have different abilities and needs regarding technology hardware and applications. As well, entities may not have adequate resources to address a complicated matrix of cosmopolitan elders or far-flung, rural, aging communities. As Gen Jones Latinxs, we aspire to be affirming with our aging peers, to respect forward-thinking ideals, and encourage more pro-elder policies, advising, small group care-shops, and workshops.

Authors:
Diana Rios, University of Connecticut, United States

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Diana Rios is faculty in Communication and El Instituto: Institute of Latina/o, Caribbean, and Latin American Studies. University of Connecticut. She is the author of numerous publications and papers examining mass media processes, audience/content, and aspects of ethnicity, race, culture, gender.

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