Hospice services are underutilized nationally among racial-ethnic communities. While several barriers to utilization have been studied, solutions always include the necessity of more outreach to racial-ethnic groups by hospice organizations.
The Leonard Davis School of Gerontology at the University of Southern California researched the outreach possibilities of comprising a brochure of hospice patient role model stories aimed at improving attitudes and knowledge of hospice among older African Americans. They used community-based organizations that included senior centers, community exercise programs, churches, and senior care management services in the greater Los Angeles area. Participants were seventy-one African Americans aged 65 and older.
Hospice brochures with role model stories showcased African Americans who had experienced successful hospice programs. They shared their initial attitudes, beliefs, influences affecting their enrollment in the hospice programs, and outcomes resulting from their participation. The conclusion of this pre-post pilot study revealed that "exposure to a hospice brochure containing theoretically driven, culturally parallel, role model stories was effective in improving knowledge of and attitudes toward hospice as well as intentions to enroll a family member or self in hospice care.”
The hospice philosophy promotes the entitlement of quality end-of-life care for everyone. Culturally sensitive brochures are among many examples of what hospices organizations committed to that philosophy can do to enhance community outreach. In this video, Treasure Coast Hospice of Florida shares testimony from role model Marian about her positive hospice experience while caring for her sister Valerie.
Frances Shani Parker, Author
Becoming Dead Right: A Hospice Volunteer in Urban Nursing Homes is available in paperback at many booksellers and in e-book form at Amazon and Barnes and Noble booksellers.
