Groups To Address Cultural Barriers to Alzheimer’s Care
The Alzheimer's Association and other groups have begun a campaign to address cultural barriers to care for dementia patients in minority communities, the Boston Globe reports.
As part of the campaign -- which targets blacks, Hispanics, Asian-Americans and other ethnic and racial groups, the association has developed and distributed educational materials in English and Spanish for patients and physicians. In addition, the association plans to launch a media campaign in English and Spanish and increase efforts to help physicians identify patients at risk for dementia.
"Driving the initiatives is concern that increasing numbers of African-Americans and Latinos are at high risk of Alzheimer's and other types of dementia because they have cardiovascular disease or diabetes and because they are reaching their 60s, 70s and 80s, when dementia typically strikes," the Globe reports.
In addition, some recent studies also have found that minorities are more likely than whites to develop dementia and Alzheimer's. The association also seeks to ensure that minorities have access to new treatments for dementia (Dembner, Boston Globe, 7/23).