Project SummaryThe purpose of the proposed research project is to: 1) Describe the expressed preferences of Hispaniccaregivers in South Florida for services that would help them better care for older adults with Alzheimer’sDisease and related dementias (ADRD); and 2) Examine the cultural congruence of available supports with theexpectations of Hispanic ADRD caregivers through the comparison of themes emerging from interviews withproviders and caregivers. Older Hispanics are one of the fastest growing demographic groups in the country,representing an estimated 20% of all persons 65 and over by 2050. Hispanics appear to have higher rates ofAlzheimer’s and other dementias when compared to White Americans and African Americans, particularly inolder age groups. Nearly 70% of the older adult population in Miami-Dade County, Florida is Hispanic, and thispopulation is growing, especially among the 80+ age group. As this population of older Hispanics withAlzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) grows, so will their caregiving needs. Living longer andphysically healthier with Alzheimer’s will increase the need for family caregivers and the home and community-based services that support them. Deleterious effects have been associated with caregiving, includingemotional burden, economic and social impact, higher risk for depression, psychotropic medication use,hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, increases of health care services utilization, and mortality. We know ingeneral that Hispanics provide more intensive caregiving, more hours, and more assistance with Activities ofDaily Living. However, they also appear to relate to the stresses of caregiving differently, and underutilizeservices, such as support groups. Local utilization data from the area agency on aging show an underutilizationof training and support services as currently provided. Despite an ethnically congruent local workforce, theremay still be values held by Hispanic caregivers that differ from those of the service providers. This differencecould impact the way services are delivered and received and result in critical limitations to the servicescurrently available. If we are expecting an increase of Hispanic older adults being cared for by family, thencloser attention needs to be paid to the potential limitations of current services in order provide services thatwill appropriately support Hispanic caregivers. The proposed research seeks to shift current practice byproviding in-depth understanding of the potential differences between Hispanic ADRD caregivers perception ofneed and service providers understanding of these needs through ethnographic research and narrativeanalysis of data collected through in-depth interviews and participant observation. This research will be carriedout in collaboration with the local area agency on aging with the goal of informing direct services tocaregivers. The ultimate goal is to design and evaluate culturally appropriate Hispanic caregiver supportservices in the future.
