 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Marylyn M McEwen, PhD(c), APRN, BC, College of Nursing, University of Arizona, PO Box 210203, Tucson, AZ 85721-0203, 520-626-6926, mmcewen@nursing.arizona.edu and Marion K. Slack, PhD, Pharmacy Practice and Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210207, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721-0207.
Multiple factors create barriers to use of community-based services by Hispanic caregivers of elder kin. Examples of barriers include strong networks of informal family caregivers, language differences, lack of familiarity with community services, powerlessness and lack of ability to gain knowledge to make informed choices regarding health care, a difference in health outlook, and living arrangements (Gallegos, 1991; Slack & McEwen, 1999; Warda, 2000). Systems-level barriers include the perception of the medical system and other bureaucracies as unresponsive to Hispanics, high cost of services, lack of bilingual and bicultural caregivers, and lack of culturally competent care (Warda, 2000). Underutilization of community-based services by Hispanic elders can have devastating outcomes and potentially abbreviate the elder's stay in the family home (Crist, 2002). We present a culturally relevant intervention, the Loteria game, for increasing knowledge and enabling Hispanic caregivers to access community-based services for their elder kin. Loteria, similar to bingo, is a popular game in the Mexican culture and has been successfully adapted by promotoras to promote healthy lifestyle changes. The Loteria game board and cards illuminate availability of and access requirements for community resources appropriate for the community-based elder. We maintain that the Loteria game is a culturally relevant intervention aimed at decreasing caregiver barriers to accessing services for Hispanic elder kin.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.