Our Elders
Ensure the Black elders of Black Greater Grand Rapids are cared for, safe & protected
Clear and concise data on Black elders in Kent County was difficult to locate; however, if that statistics follow suit, and it is true that elders make up about 14% of the Kent County population with large, and Black people make up about 10.5% of Kent County, then we can surmise that there are just under 10,000 Black elders in Grand Rapids. And if national data pre- and during COVID-19 are an indication of the health and well-being of Black elders in Greater Grand Rapids, then we know that Black elders are disproportionately impacted by pre- existing conditions like hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and other diseases.
What we also know about Black elders is that many are isolated and live alone, a number of Black elders have a difficult time navigating this technology-reliant society and many experience transportation challenges.