Report Suggests Discrimination Is a Barrier to Alzheimer's, Dementia Care

An Alzheimer's Association report suggests minorities are experiencing racial healthcare discrimination, which is a barrier to Alzheimer's and dementia care, according to the Gainesville Sun . The study found 50 percent of African Americans, 42 percent of Native Americans, 34 percent of Asians, and 33 percent of Hispanics have suffered healthcare discrimination, and feel they are receiving unequal treatment. Moreover, Alzheimer's and dementia disproportionately impacts African Americans and Hispanics. Samantha Logue with the Alzheimer's Association Florida Region said African Americans are twice as likely and older Hispanics are 1.5 times as likely to develop Alzheimer's. She added that 36 percent of African Americans, 18 percent of Hispanic Americans, and 19 percent of Asian Americans believe discrimination would be an obstacle to Alzheimer's care. At least half of non-white caregivers also claim to have experienced discrimination when navigating healthcare settings for their care recipient. Non-white racial/ethnic persons also expect and contend with more barriers when accessing dementia care, are less trustful of medical research, and are less confident that they have access to health professionals who understand their ethnic and racial background and experiences.