Follow the numbers and the money to track disparities

Earlier this week, Keeping it REAL Caregiving marked Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a moment to reflect on Dr. King and his legacy.

It was also a moment to consider how historical moments in our recent pasts may have played out in real time for our elders.

Courtesy: Adobe Stock

KIRC also issued a call to action from all of you. Actually, more like a call to open your family archives!

I wanted to hear how other families experienced the tumultuous changes faced by our nation during the time period of 1960-1970.

Thank you to one our readers who shared this poignant memory of an action her father took.

This man may not have sparked national, international and/or far reaching societal change, but he DID set the bar high for how all people should be treated.

I’m responding to your invitation to relate a personal story about MLK’s message concerning equality.

My father was the manager and coach of my softball team and we were playing in an all star game against another team.

When the game ended the coach of the other team told my father that our team was invited to attend a barbecue and pool party. That man then told my father that one particular girl, a black teammate at whom he pointed was NOT welcome.

My father told him, “Then, none of us will come.”

That deplorable but pride-filled moment has and will forever stand out in my mind.

It’s how I remember my father’s legacy. 👍🏻🐶🤔🌈😈 ~ D

Wow, what an incredible moment!

I can’t help but wonder how that exchange impacted the young black girl on the softball team? Have moments like that haunted her as she aged, wondering if she would have compassionate care based on the color of her skin? Would she experience a repeat of such disregard as she encountered years ago?

Those are the types of questions many of us working within the eldercare and aging space must ask … are care services and providers delivering equitable care across diverse landscapes? And if not, how do we work to improve the situation?

Here’s why this matters, especially if you or your elder (family member, patient, client) is a person of color.

I took part in a Gerontological Society of America event this week. We discussed addressing barriers to care and disparities within the aging and long term support services sector.

Courtesy: GSA Webinar Screenshot

One speaker, Edem Hado, MPH, is a policy research senior analyst at the AARP Public Policy Institute.

She explained that based on statistical data, black and brown older adults are more likely to have poor quality of care or have difficulty getting care.

And as for the care workforce, which she describes as ‘the backbone of our care system’… nationally almost 87% are women and of those 59% are women of color. The average pay rate is just $12 dollars an hour. That works out to roughly $20-thousand dollars a year.

Courtesy: GSA Webinar Screenshot

Which brings us full circle to the first part of the week, and efforts to bolster the training, career paths and income of the care workforce. Which can then lend itself to improved care for those who need help.

Which brings us back to what is happening on the ground here in California:

As a reminder, today you can join the anniversary summit event for the California Master Plan for Aging (MPA) to learn more about proposals on the table, who would be impacted and ways to have your voices heard.

All for now; until next time,

Julia

🌸💐🌼🌸💐🌼🌸💐🌼

*Header Image: Courtesy Adobe Stock*

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