Cultural Competence In the Aging Network: Creating A Vision, Developing Strategies and Identifying R

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Cultural Competence In the Aging Network
Creating A Vision, Developing Strategies and
Identifying Resources for Success

• National Aging Disability IR/A Symposium
• Bernice Hutchinson
• National Association of State Units on Aging
• Monday, June 6, 2005

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Cultural Competence in the Aging NetworkOverview

• Older Americans are an important and growing
  segment of our population.
• The growth and increasing diversity of this
  population affects how IR professionals meet
  their needs.
• Understanding emerging trends can determine
  cultural competence challenges and ultimately
  benefit IR system design and service delivery.

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Cultural Competence in the Aging Network Older
Adults

• Older adults represent the fastest growing
  segment of the U.S. population.
• In 2003, nearly 36 million Americans were age 65
  and older. By 2050, that number will grow to
  almost 87 million.
• The oldest segment of the population (85) grew
  from just 100,000 in 1900 to 4.2 million in 2000.
• The 85 segment of the population is projected to
  grow from 4.2 million in 2000 to nearly 21
  million in 2050.

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Cultural Competence in the Aging Network Gender

• Women make up 58 of the population age 65 and
  over and 69 of the population age 85 and over.
• A majority of older men are veterans.
• In 2003, older men were much more likely than
  older women to be married. Over three-quarters
  (78) of men age 65-74 were married, compared
  with over half (56 ) of women in the same age
  group.
• In 2003, women age 65 and over were three times
  as likely as men of the same age to be widowed.

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Cultural Competence in the Aging Network Racial
and Ethnic Diversity

• As our older population grows, it will also
  become more diverse in its racial and ethnic
  composition.
• In 2003, non-Hispanic whites accounted for nearly
  83 percent of the older population, African
  Americans made up 8 percent, Hispanics accounted
  for nearly 6 percent and Asians made up 3
  percent.
• By 2050, the composition will change to 61 for
  non-Hispanic whites, 18 for Hispanics and 12
  for African Americans, and 8 for Asians.

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Cultural Competence in the Aging Network The New
Diversity

• Non-English Speaking/Immigrant
• Older Adults with Mental and Physical
  Disabilities
• Older Adults Living with HIV/AIDs
• Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Older Adults
• Older Adult Prisoners
• Older Adult Caregivers of Adults/Children
• Older Battered Women
• Foreign Visitors/Alien Workers
• Older Adults with Divergent Incomes

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Cultural Competence in the Aging Network
Education

• In 2003, 28 percent of the older population had
  not completed high school.
• Despite the overall increase in educational
  attainment among older Americans, substantial
  differences exist among racial and ethnic groups.
  
• Comparatively, in 2003 only 48 of older African
  Americans and 64 of older Hispanics had not
  completed high school.

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Cultural Competence in the Aging Network Living
Arrangements

• There are significant correlations between living
  arrangements of older adults and income, health
  status and the availability of caregivers.
• Older adults who live alone are much more likely
  than older adults who live with spouses to be in
  poverty.
• In 2003, older women (40) were twice as likely
  as older men to live alone (19).

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Cultural Competence in the Aging Network Health
Status

• Older Americans who survive to age 65 can expect
  to live an average of nearly 18 more years.
• The prevalence of chronic conditions differs by
  sex.
• In 2002, close to one-half of older men and
  one-third of older women reported trouble
  hearing.
• Vision trouble affects 18 of the older
  population. Those age 85 and older have about
  33 reporting trouble seeing.
• The prevalence of moderate to severe memory
  impairment increases significantly with age.

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Cultural Competence in the Aging Network
Questions to Consider

• Is your state/community experiencing similar
  trends?
• What are the implications for IR system design
  and service delivery?
• What are your current activities and ideas for
  the future?
• What supports are needed to move toward cultural
  competence?

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Cultural Competence in the Aging Network
Defining Cultural Diversity

• the differences between people based on a
  shared ideology and valued set of beliefs, norms,
  customs, and way of life consists of patterns
  of behavior

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Cultural Competence in the Aging Network
Advancing Cultural Competence

• Recognizing Difference
• Acknowledging Difference
• Demonstrating Tolerance
• Recognizing Barriers
• Removing Personal Institutional Bias
• Value Equation (differencesame)
• Inclusion Equation (inclusionstrength)

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Cultural Competence in the Aging Network
Advancing Cultural Competence

• Value Diversity and Uniqueness
• Acquire New Knowledge
• Cultivate Leadership
• Develop Partnerships
• Integrate Diversity Goals into Aging IR Agenda

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Cultural Competence in the Aging Network Aging
Network Priorities

• Focus on the Person
• Coordinated and Comprehensive System of Supports
• Advocacy for Older People
• The Seamless Access/Delivery Experience

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Cultural Competence in the Aging Network IR
and Cultural Competence

• Access
• The Referral Experience
• Follow-Up
• Advocacy
• Resources
• Data Collection, Analysis and Reporting
• Taxonomy
• Training and Staffing
• Partnership Development

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Cultural Competence in the Aging Network
Resources

• Assessment and Planning Tools
• National Center on Cultural Competence
  http//gucdc.georgetown.edu/nccc
• National Association of State Units on Aging
  www.nasua.org/informationandreferral
• n4a Diversity Advancement Toolkitwww.n4a.com
• Guidelines, Reports and Studies
• U.S. Administration on Aging www.aoa.gov
• Generations Volume 26, No.3 Fall 2002
  www.asaing.org
• Training and Technical Assistance
• National Aging IR Support Center
  www.nasua.org/informationandreferral

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Cultural Competence in the Aging Network Summary

• Create an accurate picture of your aging
  population now and in the future.
• Statistics and trends can be useful in
  understanding cultural competence challenges.
• Advancing cultural competence in aging IR is a
  process of understanding the composition of the
  service area, creating a vision, identifying
  goals, seeking strategies and accessing useful
  resources.