NHCOA Strengthens Diabetes Education Efforts to Promote Health and Well-Being Among Hispanic Older Adults and Caregivers

NHCOA trains new group of promotores de salud in TX and NJ to conduct diabetes educational outreach, particularly among Hispanic older adults

The National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA)-the leading national organization working to improve the lives of Hispanic older adults, their families, and caregivers- is strengthening and expanding its national diabetes education campaign efforts by training a new group of more than 50 promotores de salud (lay health workers) to conduct outreach and education to Latino seniors and families in the Dallas, TX Metroplex area and Millville, NJ.

Salud y Bienestar (Health and Well-Being) is a public health intervention created by NHCOA in 2005 with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in response to research NHCOA conducted on the barriers keeping Hispanic older adults from effective diabetes management. The study also identified helpful factors among Latinos who were controlling their diabetes successfully, and shed light on both Hispanic and non-Hispanic healthcare providers working with the Hispanic community to determine what does and doesn’t work in terms of increasing compliance rates. The program, which is expanding with support from the Walmart Foundation, aims to reduce the diabetes health disparity among U.S. Hispanic adults by helping delay the onset of diabetes among high-risk Hispanics; preventing the development of diabetes complications among those who already have the condition; and improving the quality of care for Hispanic seniors with diabetes.

During the Salud y Bienestar trainings, NHCOA shows promotores de salud (lay health worker) how to conduct culturally and linguistically appropriate and age sensitive outreach in their respective communities regarding the importance of healthy living to help prevent or control diabetes and its complications using practical educational tools and practices that foster healthy lifestyle changes. Last year, more than 25% of older Americans ages 65 and older had diabetes, and the disease’s impact isn’t just limited to the patient’s medical complications. The disease and its related complications also represent large direct medical costs. Whether it is diagnosed or undiagnosed, diabetes hurts the economy due to disability, lost productivity, and premature mortality. In 2007 alone, the total cost of diabetes totaled $218 billion.

Moreover, diabetes disproportionately affects diverse communities, especially Latinos. Compared to non-Hispanic Whites, the risk of diagnosed diabetes is 66% higher among Hispanics. Given that the risk of diabetes increases with age, Latino seniors are even more predisposed to diabetes and its complications as they reach their golden years. Therefore, Hispanic elders are far more likely to die from diabetes complications than non-Hispanic Whites.

To schedule an interview, or for more information on NHCOA’s signature national diabetes education program Salud y Bienestar, please contact media@nhcoa.org or call 202-347-9733.