Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, Ahead of Print.
The 2024 International Conference on Aging in the Americas (ICAA) explored cognitive aging, health policy, environmental factors, and migration among Hispanic/Latine populations. The event aimed to identify social disparities, institutional roles in dementia care, and financial support mechanisms for caregivers. A redesigned consensus-building approach using Mentimeter enabled quicker, real-time feedback across four panels: (1) Cognitive Aging, (2) Health Policy Reform, (3) Aging and the Environment, and (4) Aging, Migration, and Health. Key outcomes highlighted gaps in research, such as the need for longitudinal, culturally diverse datasets and policies that mitigate healthcare and environmental disparities. Participants prioritized early detection of age-related conditions, non-pharmacological treatments, and support for caregivers. Findings advocate for integrative research, improved data linkages, and policy reforms to address disparities in healthcare access and quality of life among older adults across the Americas.