“As a researcher at the Allen Institute for Brain Science in Seattle, Alice Mukora says she understands the need to enroll diverse populations in Alzheimer’s research. But that would be more likely to happen, she notes, if people of color had better experiences getting Alzheimer’s care.” – Siri Stafford/Getty Images

by Jon Hamilton

“Many members of racial and ethnic minority groups say they face extra barriers when seeking care for a friend or family member with Alzheimer’s disease.

“Black, Hispanic, Asian and Native American caregivers were far more likely than whites to encounter discrimination, language barriers and providers who lack cultural competence, according to a report released Tuesday by the Alzheimer’s Association.

“‘Among nonwhite caregivers, half say they’ve faced discrimination when navigating through the health care system,’ says Maria Carrillo, the association’s chief science officer. Just 17% of white caregivers reported that sort of problem.

“Black caregivers were most likely to report barriers, followed by Native American, Asian American and Hispanic caregivers.

“One major concern reported by those trying to get treatment or other support for a loved one is that ‘providers don’t even listen to what they are saying, perhaps because of their race, color or ethnicity,’ Carrillo says. ‘What they’re experiencing is actually affecting their care,’ she notes.”

Read this NPR article in its entirety, click here.