On PBS NewsHour last week, reporter Mary Jo Brooks took a look at a trend in aging: the increase in the number of Latinos entering long-term care facilities. According to NewsHour, there's been a 58 percent increase in Latino admissions to such communities, compared to a 10 percent decrease in admissions for whites.
One big reason, Brooks explains, is that more and more Latino couples are working full-time jobs–which leaves no one behind to care for elderly parents in the home, the way aging has been handled traditionally in the culture. And this makes for a particularly difficult transition for some.
"It really is not easy for families when they are touring the building, and they're in tears," says Rashmi Birla, director of Country Villa Plaza in Santa Ana. The facility's population is 70 percent Hispanic. Birla says she often finds herself in the position of comforting family members, saying, "We understand; we know it's difficult."
Happily, the NewsHour segment reports that residents actually tend to acclimate quite well. Mariachi bands and rounds of Lotería, a Mexican game of chance similar to bingo, entertain the residents. The food served is familiar; tastes of home. And, of course, they're surrounded by other Spanish-speaking residents and staff, providing a welcoming sense of comfort.
The importance of community and cultural relevance is very well established for those serving older adults, and amenities and services are key to meeting that need. But the design of the facility itself can do that, too. I'm thinking, in particular, of healthcare centers that have recently been designed for Native American populations, not only weaving in colors, shapes, and symbols of great significance throughout the centers, but also designing gathering spaces that cater specifically to tribal traditions and customs.
As long-term care facilities are being renovated and built from the ground up, there's an opportunity in areas with concentrated cultural/ethnic populations to bake this sense of community right into the walls from the very beginning. And I'd love to get our readers' input on facilities that are already doing this quite well, or planning to do this in the near future. You can watch the NewsHour segment below; and please share in the comments section (or via email) your thoughts on the topic.
