Many Hispanic Americans lack confidence in the ability of assisted living communities to meet their social and cultural needs, according to a new study.
Just 40% Hispanic adults believe it would be easy for older Hispanics in their area to find an assisted living community with employees who speak their language, a recent survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research revealed.
Similarly, only 28% of Hispanic adults believe that it would be easy for Hispanic seniors in their area to find assisted living communities that can make food to which they’re accustomed.
The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research conducted the survey from March 13 to April 5 using funding from the SCAN Foundation. The survey involved interviews in Spanish and English with 1,522 adults across the country who are members of NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak panel.
About 65% of Hispanic adults are worried their older counterparts won’t be able to easily identify assisted living communities that will respect their spiritual or religious beliefs, the survey also revealed.
Antonio Torres, a 53-year-old who lives in Orlando, Florida, told The AP he’s not confident he will be able to find a culturally sensitive skilled nursing facility when he needs one.
“I’d rather just live alone and poison myself by accident rather than stay in one of those homes right now,” Torres said.
Like other demographic groups, Hispanic people aren’t confident they’ll be able to pay for all of their long-term care expenses. To be exact, only 15% of older Hispanics are “very confident” they will be able to pay for them.
Written by Mary Kate Nelson
