SAN DIEGO — There’s growing concern over a significant increase in Alzheimer’s and dementia for people within the Latino community.
Alzheimer’s San Diego says between 2019 and 2040, the number of Latinos over 65 with dementia will grow by an estimated 196 percent, making them among the minority groups more likely to see the largest increase in the coming years.
Marta Gutierrez is her 98-year-old mother's caretaker, saying Alzheimer’s has been as difficult for her as it has been for her mom.
Gutierrez told CBS 8 she had to educate herself on both the symptoms, as well as proper care.
Alzheimer’s San Diego president Eugenia Welsh said that's a common response within the Latino community, where memory loss isn't talked about as much as it should be.
"There's still a lot of stigma around Alzheimer's and dementia, even though it's beyond our control. Very often it's treated like mental illness, which still has a lot of stigma around it," said Welsh.
Aside from the stigma, Welsh said there's also a lack of information.
"Latinos are 40% less likely to speak to their physicians about cognitive decline. Very often, people think that memory loss is a part of normal aging and it's not and then by the time they raise the issue with their physician, it's too late to be able to do anything about it," said Welsh.
That’s why Alzheimer’s San Diego has made a concentrated effort to educate and provide resources that cater to the Latino community.
That includes hiring Spanish speaking staff who can connect families to Spanish language services: everything from educational classes for caregivers to social events, memory screenings, even volunteers who will come to your home and offer assistance, all for free.
"Respite program is great for somebody that's feeling overwhelmed at times, to have a trained volunteer come in and really say, you know what? Give yourself a break from your dementia journey for a little bit," said Nellie Hernandez, a dementia educator.
Gutierrez said she was surprised at how much help there is, saying all it takes is reaching out to know you're not alone.
“It’s a very good program,” Gutierrez said in Spanish.
For more information on Alzheimer’s San Diego and the free resources available, click here.
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