For many New Yorkers, arriving in the city brought the promise of the American dream and the happy retirement that comes with it.

However, the reality isn’t always so golden as their golden years arrive.

Jacinto Parrales, 73, can’t afford to slow down.

The Ecuadorian native has been in the city for 30 years and lives paycheck to paycheck.

“Of course I’m living a hard life, suffering, to pay rent, to eat. I have a family back home that I still help,” he said in Spanish.

Thirty years ago, he fell in love with the city and overstayed his tourist visa, dreaming of saving, retiring, and moving back to Ecuador.

When we asked if he’s achieved his American dream yet, he said it hasn’t happened yet.

“That’s what I would want, so I can retire, and be at peace,” he said.

Parrales said he’s still struggling to fit in. He has an application for work authorization pending to the federal government, and paints apartments and homes for a living.

As hard as it is, even at his age, he said he loves the work when he can get it.

Almost half of the city’s adults, 65 years old and older, are immigrants — like Parrales.

Also, Hispanics in New York City make up a greater share of the older population than in the rest of the country, according to the city’s Department of Aging. Hispanics make up 23% in the city compared to just 9% nationwide.

New Immigrant Community Empowerment, also known as NICE, is an advocacy group in Jackson Heights that boasts it’s helped more than 11,000 immigrants in the last year.

More than 500 are older New Yorkers.

NICE helps with free meals, social events, and more recently, a workforce development program for this population to help them transition to jobs that require less physical labor.

“We never envisioned that our immigrants are gonna get older. They came here very young in their lives to work,” said Hildalyn Colon Hernandez, deputy director for NICE. “This population in particular [doesn’t] have a safety net like other Americans have because of their status.”

With no savings or Social Security benefits to fall back on, Parrales said, “People are exploiting workers a lot, they pay whatever they want, they take away salaries.”

He opened up about how he’s still waiting on payment from a recent job.

And he said he has no choice but to take what’s offered.

The money Parrales earns pays for the $600 a month room he rents in Queens and food.

At 73 years old, he’s still hustling and hoping he’ll one day realize his American dream.

“It’s really difficult. But you have to keep fighting to see where you can get to,” Parrales said.