Palliative and Hospice Care for Latinos

By the year 2050, Latinos, who currently make up 15 % of America’s population, will account for 30 % of the population.  Latinos are a diverse population with unique healthcare end-of-life needs that must be addressed if they are to receive quality care everyone deserves. Many have difficulty as immigrants adjusting in America to the dominant English language and Anglo-centric culture.

Non-Latino and non-Spanish-speaking healthcare workers must make every effort to communicate with Latinos and eliminate cultural misunderstandings that can negatively impact their healthcare. In terms of end-of-life care, the following challenges of immigrants must be addressed:

1) Geographic distance as well as political and economic realities which separate patients from their families

2) Undocumented immigrants who are frequently uninsured and fearful of deportation

3) Language and literacy barriers

4) Concerns about discrimination, culture, religion and spiritual influences

Professional interpreters can be helpful in alleviating barriers in communication. Ongoing staff development in working with diverse populations is also important. Everyone is entitled to quality palliative and hospice care when it is needed. You can read more here about palliative care for Latino patients and their families.

Frances Shani Parker, Author

"Becoming Dead Right: A Hospice Volunteer in Urban Nursing Homes”

 “Hospice and Nursing Homes Blog”

Latinos, African Americans, and Alzheimer’s Disease (Audio 5:55 mins.)

According to a study reported in “Neurology®,”
Latinos and African Americans with Alzheimer's disease live longer than Caucasians who have the disease. Variables such as education level, age when symptoms began, living situation, and other factors that could affect how long the study participants lived did not change the results. The study involved about 31,000 people who had Alzheimer’s disease.

Latino participants lived about 40 percent longer than Caucasian participants, and African American participants lived 15 percent longer than Caucasians. Asian and American Indian participants lived about as long as Caucasians. Author of the study, Kala Mehta, DSc, said, "Possible explanations may be underlying genetic or cultural factors." Other possible factors were varying levels of social support from extended family, varying levels of health and diseases in addition to Alzheimer's disease, varying levels of treatment of other diseases, and differences in measurement or earlier diagnosis in some groups. Another factor could be length of stay in the United States. These findings can impact healthcare planning of Alzheimer’s disease.

You can hear more about Alzheimer’s disease and treatment, including additional information about African Americans, at this NPR.org. website.

Frances Shani Parker, Author
"Becoming Dead Right: A Hospice Volunteer in Urban Nursing Homes”
Hospice and Nursing Homes Blog