FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 17, 2018

Contact: Jenna McDavid, National Managing Coordinator
646-653-5015 / jmcdavid@diverseelders.org

New York, NY – The Diverse Elders Coalition (DEC) is the recipient of a $549,679 planning grant from The John A. Hartford Foundation to identify and address the unique needs of family caregivers in racially and ethnically diverse communities, American Indian and Alaska Native communities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender (LGBT) communities. “Addressing Unmet Family Caregiving Needs in Diverse Older Communities” will provide funding to the DEC to research disparities in access to linguistically and culturally competent health care and social services among those served by the coalition and develop programs that will meet those caregivers’ unique needs.

“We are so grateful to The John A. Hartford Foundation for recognizing the importance of targeted programming for diverse communities,” said Dr. Yanira Cruz, President and CEO of the National Hispanic Council on Aging, one of the founding member organizations of the Diverse Elders Coalition. “Issues of cultural competence, language access, geography and immigration status have historically made it difficult to reach these family caregivers with the programming and support that they deserve. It is essential for us to understand the unique needs of the caregivers in our communities, because when caregivers are supported, diverse elders are well cared for.”

The funding provided to the DEC by The John A. Hartford Foundation will support a literature review, national survey, and focus groups on caregiving in diverse communities, and it will facilitate the development of training and educational programming for healthcare and social service providers, policymakers, and family caregivers themselves. This grant will also generate action plans for implementation of that programming in subsequent years.

“As we undertake efforts to support family caregivers of older adults, it is imperative that we pay special attention to the unique needs and approaches that work among diverse communities,” said Dr. Terry Fulmer, President of The John A. Hartford Foundation. “That is why we are thrilled to be partnering with the Diverse Elders Coalition. Its members’ deep connections to their constituencies – and to each other – will help us create more effective caregiver support programs that are grounded in respect and appreciation for the differences in race, ethnicity, culture, language, and sexual orientation that make our nation so vibrant.”

More information about the Diverse Elders Coalition’s caregiving work will be shared on Facebook and Twitter, as well as on the Diverse Elders Coalition website at www.diverseelders.org. The latest updates can also be accessed by signing up for Common Threads, the Diverse Elders Coalition’s monthly e-newsletter.

The five Diverse Elders Coalition member organizations include:

• National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA)
• National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA)
• National Indian Council on Aging (NICOA)
• SAGE || Advocacy and Services for LGBT Elders
• Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC)

The National Caucus and Center on Black Aging, Inc. (NCBA) will also join the Diverse Elders Coalition in this effort.

###

Founded in 2010, the Diverse Elders Coalition advocates for policies and programs that improve aging in American Indian and Alaska Native communities; Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Native Hawaiian communities; Black and African American communities; Hispanic and Latino communities; and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender (LGBT) communities. We have come together to promote policy changes and programmatic solutions that respond to this demographic shift and will remove the barriers facing our communities. We envision a world where all older adults can live full and active lives as they age.

The John A. Hartford Foundation, based in New York City, is a private, nonpartisan, national philanthropy dedicated to improving the care of older adults. For more than three decades, the organization has been the leader in building a field of experts in aging and testing and replicating innovative approaches to care. The Foundation has three areas of emphasis: creating age-friendly health systems, supporting family caregivers, and improving serious illness and end-of-life care. Working with its grantees, the Foundation strives to change the status quo and create a society where older adults can continue their vital contributions. For more information, visit johnahartford.org and follow @johnahartford.