Many Hispanic adults are worried about being able to find a home health care aide who speaks their language—and figuring out how they will pay for the care—a recent survey revealed.
The sixth annual Long-Term Care Poll published by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research was funded by The SCAN Foundation and focuses on opinions regarding long-term care in the United States.
The AP-NORC Center is a partnership between NORC, an independent research organization at the University of Chicago, and The AP, a global news wire service.
The SCAN Foundation is a Long Beach, California-based public charity that works to transform care for older adults.
Less than half of Hispanics over the age of 18 say an older individual in that demographic group could easily find a home health aide in their local area who speaks Spanish, the survey found.
Even so, Hispanic adults widely report that it would be easier to find a home health aide who meets their needs compared to finding a nursing home or assisted living facility that does, according to the survey.
AP-NORCThe AP-NORC poll included interviews conducted between March 13, 2018 and April 5, 2018 with 458 Hispanic adults. Of those interviewees, 385 were 40 and older.
Paying for long-term care is also a concern, the poll revealed.
Nearly a third of older Hispanics expect to rely on government programs to pay for care, but just two in 10 expect Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid to continue providing the same level of benefits in five years, according to the survey.
But even at the current level, government programs may prove to be limited.
“In 2017, the average yearly income through Social Security for retirees was about $17,000. But part-time home health aide costs an average of about $49,000 annually in the U.S,” the report noted.
There are policies being suggested to help Americans prepare for the costs of care and many, including coverage through Medicare Advantage and government-administered long-term care insurance, are popular among older Hispanics.
The majority of Hispanics 40 and older also support employers offering long-term care insurance as a benefit similar to health insurance.
Written by Kaitlyn Mattson
