Improving Hispanic Family Caregiver Projects

Historias de Cuidadores Familiares

Las Señoras es una organización sin fines de lucro enfocada en las necesidades de los cuidadores familiares hispanos. Brindan apoyo, educación, experiencias compartidas y defensa de derechos. Ofrecen asistencia de persona a persona para ayudar a las familias a identificar y recibir un diagnóstico de discapacidad, así como orientación en la solicitud de Medicaid y otros sistemas de atención médica. Mira este video para conocer cómo Las Señoras pasó de ser un grupo de cuidadoras hispanohablantes monolingües a una organización sin fines de lucro que aboga por los cuidadores y participa de manera activa con la Legislatura de Idaho.

 

 

Las Señoras is a non-profit organization focused on the needs of Hispanic family caregivers. They provide one-on-one support through education, shared experiences, and advocacy. They offer peer-to-peer assistance in aiding families to identify and receive a disability diagnosis, guidance through Medicaid application, and similar healthcare systems. Watch this video to learn how Las Señoras evolved from monolingual Spanish-speaking caregivers, to a non-profit that advocates for caregivers and regularly engages the Idaho Legislature. 

La Señora Ilda comparte sus dificultades como cuidadora y anima a otras personas a buscar apoyo.

 

Señora Ilda shares her caregiver struggles and encourages others to seek support. 

La Señora Blanca comparte sus dificultades como cuidadora y explica por qué es importante abogar por su hijo con discapacidad.

Señora Blanca shares her struggles as a caregiver and why it’s important champion for her disabled son. 

La Señora Amalia relata su experiencia al reunirse con legisladores de Idaho para abogar por los derechos de las personas con discapacidad.

Señoras Amalia discusses her experience meeting with Idaho Policymakers to advocate for disability rights. 

Successes and Barriers Identified by Public Health Professionals Engaging Hispanic Communities 

Este estudio analiza cómo los profesionales de salud pública colaboran con comunidades hispanas en EE. UU., identificando logros, barreras y el valor de la competencia cultural y las relaciones de confianza. Los resultados destacan estrategias como asociarse con organizaciones comunitarias, desarrollar mensajes culturalmente relevantes e involucrar personal bilingüe para mejorar la difusión y la aceptación de los programas.

 

This study examines how public health professionals work with Hispanic communities in the U.S., identifying successes, barriers, and the value of cultural competence and trusted relationships. Findings highlight strategies such as partnering with community organizations, developing culturally relevant messages, and engaging bilingual staff to improve outreach and program acceptance.

Identifying How Unique Barriers and Cultural Values Influence Service Utilization and Caregiver Roles.

Recognizing that aging populations are growing more diverse every year, Center for the Study of Aging staff Adrian Rodriguez, BAPH, CHES, Taylor Neher, DPHH(c), MPH, and Center Director Dr. Sarah Toevs pursued the question, “how have public health programs successfully implemented public health interventions within the Hispanic population?”. This report highlights the need to recognize barriers and cultural values that are unique to this population during intervention development. 

“Through a literature review of peer-reviewed articles, and grey-literature on Hispanic and other diverse caregivers, unique barriers were identified such as socioeconomic status, language, cultural competence, immigration status, transportation, insurance coverage, and healthcare cost. These barriers contribute to reduced healthcare access and reduced utilization of formal caregiver services.” 

Meet the Authors

Adrian Rodriguez began working at the Center for the Study of Aging as an undergraduate research assistant for the Family Caregiver Navigator project and is now a full time Bilingual Intake Navigator. He is a graduate student in the Master of Public Health program at Boise State University with an emphasis in Prevention and Intervention Programming. Driven by a passion for social equity, Adrian’s continued research focuses on strategies to successfully implement caregiver and similar public health programs in Hispanic communities. 

Taylor Neher began working at the Center for the Study of Aging at Boise State University in the fall of 2021 as an evaluation specialist. She is a previous undergraduate student from the Center for the Study of Aging and has since earned her MPH from Texas A&M University. She is currently finishing her Doctorate of Public Health from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and is focused on community collaboration and public health leadership in underserved communities. 

Dr. Sarah Toevs, a professor in the School of Public and Population Health at Boise State University, and Director of the Center for the Study of Aging, is actively involved with students, faculty and community partners in efforts to maximize quality of life for individuals of all ages. Dr. Toevs holds a doctoral degree from the University of Utah and has been a faculty member at Boise State University since 2000. Her research expertise is in the areas of program evaluation and assessment and have resulted in several state and regional reviews such as the Idaho Landscape Analysis and Needs-Based Assessment of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.