Cultural competence: a challenge facing health care providers

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    Hispanics are one of the country’s largest ethnic groups and one of the fastest growing demographics, making up 17 percent of the U.S. population. As a group with higher rates of chronic disease, they face barriers navigating the health care system. These barriers include language and cultural differences, lack of education, health literacy, and a dearth of information.

    Dr. Yanira Cruz, President/CEO of the National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA), stresses that cultural factors may reduce equality in health care assistance for the Hispanic community and the opportunity to receive appropriate information from health care providers,.... Read More

                 

    National Hispanic Council on Aging to Host Tele Town Hall on Caregiving

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    Providing assistance for older generations is a source of great cultural pride within Hispanic communities, and what motivates Hispanics to become caregivers to their older adults is familiarismo, their cultural values that are passed on from generation to generation. However, more than 40% of these caregivers reported feeling stressed and even overwhelmed by the caregiving responsibility.

    More than 9 million Latinos, 21% of the estimated 40 million family caregivers in the U.S., are caring for a family member without receiving any type of compensation.

    Their average income is $39,000 per year, well below the national average of $54,700. This represents a challenge.... Read More

                 

    Its Flu Season! Don’t Wait, Get Vaccinated!

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    Flu season is upon us! It is so important for people 65 years and older to get vaccinated because they are at greater risk of serious complications from the flu. While flu seasons can vary in severity, during most seasons, people 65 years and older have the greatest weight of severe flu disease. In recent years, it’s estimated that roughly 70 to 85 percent of seasonal flu-related deaths have occurred in people 65 years and older. It is particularly important for Hispanic older adults, as historically, Hispanic adults were 30 percent less likely to have received the flu shot compared to non-Hispanic.... Read More

                 

    Thought Leaders Reframe the Discussion Around Aging at NYC Roundtable

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    “Aging should not take away our identity.”

    This reflection was just one of the many ideas that came out of the 3rd edition of the Reframing Aging Thought Leaders Roundtable, organized by the National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA) held in New York City on October 19, 2018. A group of 27 experts in the field of aging gathered once again to address the misconceptions around getting “older”. This meeting was a continuation of conversations that began at roundtables in Washington, DC and Albuquerque, NM.

    Anna Maria Chavez, Executive Vice President.... Read More

                 

    Reframing Aging: “Let’s include younger generations in this conversation instead of competing against them”

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    This article originally appeared on the NHCOA blog.

    The Reframing Aging Thought Leaders Roundtable is an initiative of the National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA). The second of three 2018 roundtables was held in New Mexico. “Using our national platform, we have been working to transform the negative perceptions of Hispanic older adults in the US; it is not an issue affecting just Latinos, but older adults in general,” was just of the highlights from Dr. Yanira Cruz, President of NHCOA, during her keynote address.

    “Our commitment to older adults is to.... Read More

                 

    To achieve the wellbeing and aging with dignity for seniors it is necessary to guarantee the emotional and physical health of their Caregivers

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    This post originally appeared on the NHCOA blog. 

    Si quieres leer este artículo en español, haz clic aquí.

    More than 9 million Latinos in the United States are caring for a family member without receiving any kind of compensation. This represents a challenge when they need to balance the many responsibilities of their lives in conjunction with caring for their loved ones. Their average income is $39,000 per year, well below the national average of $54,700.

    In response, on October 20, 2017, the National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA) led.... Read More

                 

    Sexuality and Sexual Health Among Older Adults

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    This post originally appeared on the NHCOA blog.

    According to the U.S. Census Bureau (2016), it is expected that by the year 2033 the population of older adults will outnumber people younger than 18 in the United States. With the life expectancy of older adults increasing, we must continue educating and informing this population on maintaining a healthy quality of life. Many older adults continue to be independent, expressing their basic needs, and engaging in and enjoying sexual relationships.

    Aging is a natural process of life, and it is normal for the body to go through physiological and emotional changes, such as cognitive loss, and even higher vulnerability to diseases. However, basic needs, such as intimacy,.... Read More