On my way to a Kwanzaa celebration on New Year’s Eve I saw the Statue of Liberty.
My love for NYC was reawakened as I thought of all those who continue to come here from
all over the world.

On my way to a Kwanzaa celebration on New Year’s Eve I saw the Statue of Liberty. My love for NYC was reawakened as I thought of all those who continue to come here from all over the world.

The Alzheimer’s Association offers comprehensive services – without charge to our community. We urge people who experience some of the early warning signs – either in themselves, a family member or friend – to call our 24-hour Helpline (800-272-3900). As an Association,we realize that to be effective we must integrate the unique practices of different cultures by getting to know their values and customs. When I interned at CNR, an adult day care center in Brooklyn, it was important to get to know the population of clients and their family members. The staff interacted with clients in French, Patois, English and Spanish. In the kitchen, dishes were prepared with the help of clients with dementia. The menus reflected the flavorful foods from the clients’ countries of origin.

A Jamaican-American woman at the Kwanzaa party discussed the need among her friends and relatives for Alzheimer’s education, training and support group services. She bantered with her friend as she explained that she is trying to be “black enough” by the standards of her new friends in the U.S., by learning to enjoy black-eyed peas, rice and greens on this New Year’s Eve. At home she had prepared the dish of her preference, Jerk Chicken.

— Rosemary Irving, LCSW
Manager, African-American Outreach

African-American Outreach is interested in hearing from you. Please contact me at 646-744-2922 or rirving@alznyc.org if you are a member of or know organizations where we could speak about Alzheimer’s disease and the resources available at the NYC Chapter.

Latino Outreach

As time goes by, the number of individuals affected by Alzheimer’s disease (AD) grows rapidly, particularly in the Latino population. There are currently 200,000 Latinos in the U.S. with AD. That number could increase to 1.3 million by 2050, approximately 16% of the U.S. elderly population. It is critical to raise awareness not only about the disease and the needs of this group, but also about its characteristics and background. Although Latinos share similarities in cultural background and core values, they are diverse within their own culture. Improving access and quality of care for Latinos will become increasingly important for the nation’s health system.

With a grandmother experiencing memory problems and being a Latino immigrant myself, I have developed a valuable perspective about the reality and struggles families face. These struggles include language proficiency, immigration status, knowledge about the disease, cultural differences, access to medical insurance, interaction with health care providers and ability to navigate the health care system. The NYC Chapter has been addressing these issues for many years. Many of the topics are discussed in this issue, both in English and in our expanded En Español section

During my last vacation, I visited Colombia. There, I gave a presentation for family caregivers, home attendants, nurses, seniors and others from the community. I also visited an adult day care program which provided a similar model of care for people with AD as in the U.S. These are just two examples of how the NYC Chapter is supporting and contributing to the education of the Latino community overseas.

Although we still have a long way to go in the fight against Alzheimer’s, there is hope—hope for more programs and services provided in Spanish and with cultural sensitivity.

— Licet Valois V., MSW, MPS
Manager, Latino Outreach

Please feel free to contact me at 646-744-2949 or by e-mail at LValois@alznyc.org if you need assistance or additional information.

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