Support Group for Latino Caregivers of Dementia Elders: Cultural Humility and Cultural Competence

Abstract

Support groups for racial/ethnic diverse caregivers of Alzheimer’s disease family members in the Boston Area are scarce, or in the case of Latino caregivers practically nonexistent. The number of Latino family members coping with Alzheimer’s disease is increasing; appropriate services and interventions are needed. This study reports on an intervention for Latino caregivers of elders with Alzheimer’s disease through the development of a support group on the radio. There were four consecutive levels of intervention: (1) the facilitation of a focus group, (2) the development of the radio support group, (3) the distribution of culturally relevant material, (4) the expansion of family network and informal support systems. Ethnographic data were also collected from a longitudinal study conducted between 1995 and 1999. This model of intervention, the radio support group, showed that innovation simultaneously with cultural humility approaches is promising. Overall, caregivers found this information useful, suggesting the need for more cultural humility type of interventions. Cultural humility approaches and a set of culturally relevant services are needed for Latino caregivers and family members to address their needs and help overcome some of the challenges that individuals and families affected by Alzheimer’s disease experience.