Last week, the National Hispanic SMP hosted a Medicare fraud prevention charla at the Robert King High Metro Senior Center in Miami, Florida. We couldn’t have asked for a better crowd – they were attentive, participatory, and noticeably enthusiastic about fighting Medicare fraud.
In fact, many in the audience of about 60 residents who reside at Robert King High Towers, a group of high rises that are nestled in Miami’s East Little Havana right by the Miami River, know about Medicare fraud either through personal experience or word-of-mouth. This is noticeable as they chimed in during the National Hispanic SMP Leader’s presentation.
The residents’ engagement and interest was palpable, as well as their energy. As I observed the vibrant crowd, I couldn’t help but think about the many times it is said that Latinos are hard-to-reach, and Hispanic older adults even more so given the increased barriers that can isolate them from society at-large.
However, I would say this is hardly the case if cultural and linguistic competency practices are put into play when approaching and interacting with Hispanic older adults. For example, when we wanted to host a Medicare fraud prevention event at Robert King High, we knew their chorus rehearsed at a certain time and day every week, so we asked the leadership team if we could, in essence, piggyback on their rehearsal to make our presence as non-intrusive and natural as possible.
Given that Miami is very well known for Medicare fraud, any work the National Hispanic SMP does within the community must be done in such way that neither the local organization or the audience feels threatened, singled out, or coerced. This is compounded by an increasing fear within the community as fraudulent small pharmacies are being shut down, and Medicare fraud perpetrators are being caught.
By understanding and being sensitive to the concerns and issues that impact Hispanic seniors, as well as establishing a level of trust through which information is shared— rather than forced upon— is one of the ways to gain acceptance and earn validation.
Many times we forget that older adults still have valuable contributions to make, solid opinions to state, and a wealth of wisdom, experience, and knowledge to share with younger generations. Being part of a program like National Hispanic SMP serves as a good reminder that by empowering seniors they can actively protect their Medicare, as well as the wellbeing of their families, friends, relatives, and communities.