Let's Talk about Alzheimer's/Hablemos del Alzheimer - Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior of Hispanic caregivers about Alzheimer's Disease

The National Alliance for Hispanic Health partnered with Novartis Pharmaceuticals, to develop a culturally and linguistically appropriate framework and resources that will effectively reach Hispanic consumers with messages and materials to increase (1) understanding of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) in Hispanic communities, and (2) access to resources available in their communities. The Alliance conducted an environmental scan of the existing literature on Hispanics and AD as well as community panel discussions (CPD) with Hispanic caregivers of a person with AD and healthcare providers offering services to Hispanic AD patients in: San Ysidro, CA; Philadelphia, PA; and, Miami, FL.  The Alliance will present its findings, as well as recommendations for the development of the framework for Let’s Talk about Alzheimer’s initiative.  Results: A total thirty-one (31) caregivers and 20 health providers participated in the CPDs. The findings from the CPDs included but are not limited to: (1) Participants had heard of AD, but did not know or start caring to find out about it until the person they care for was diagnosed. (2) There is a tendency in the Hispanic culture to think that memory loss is part of normal aging; this normalization of forgetfulness as well as denial are perceived as the most important barriers to early diagnosis. (3) There is no “caregiving team” and usually the primary caregiver recruits help after he/she is burnt- out.(4) Hispanics have a very strong negative opinion toward the possibility of taking their family member with Alzheimer’s to be cared for in a nursing home.