Sunday, August 2, 2009

     

 
 

 

HISPANICS WITH ALZHEIMER'S

 

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According to the Alzheimer’s Association, an estimated 200 million Hispanics in the United States have Alzheimer’s disease.  By the year 2050, this number is projected to grow to 1.3 million.

 

The problem is many of these elderly Hispanics will not receive treatment or will remain undiagnosed for years.  The reasons for this are based on cultural and often linguistic barriers faced by the family members.

 

The language barrier is obvious.  It’s not easy to get help for a loved one when you do not speak the native language.  Less obvious are the cultural barriers to seeking long-term care.

 

The biggest barrier is the stigma of shame attached to a family that places a loved one in a care facility.  The cultural expectation is that families care for their loved ones, not strangers.  Also, typically, Hispanics are reluctant to ask for help and delay seeing doctors after symptoms emerge (sometimes for years.)  Furthermore, many Hispanics associate memory loss with normal signs of aging and may not recognize it as a symptom of a more serious medical condition.

 

Education and awareness would alleviate a lot of these barriers and lead to better diagnoses and treatments for these elderly patients.  Many Americans take for granted their access to quality healthcare.  A little more thought reveals how culture and language can affect your health and ultimately your lifespan.  Being open to this thought helps ensure competent medical care is available to everyone, regardless of their heritage or their language.

 

 

 

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