National Hispanic Council on Aging Volunteerism in the

National Hispanic Council on Aging Volunteerism in the Hispanic Community August, 2010 Working the. Older Lives Adults, of Hispanic Older Working to Improve the Lives to of Improve Hispanic their Families, and Caregivers Adults, Their Families, and Their Communities

In our Session Today… ØNHSMP’s Update §Needs assessments FL and DC ØVolunteerism in the Hispanic/Latino community Working the. Older Lives Adults, of Hispanic Older Working to Improve the Lives to of Improve Hispanic their Families, and Caregivers Adults, Their Families, and Their Communities

National Hispanic Medicare Fraud is widespread in the Hispanic older adult community - Language barriers DC TX RGV FL NY CA Community Challenges NHSMP - Lack of knowledge - Fear and Isolation - A Disconnect between agencies and beneficiaries Working to Improve the Lives of Hispanic Older Adults, Their Families, and Their Communities Goal: Create a Strong National Outreach & Education Campaign to prevent Medicare fraud among the Hispanic older adult community

Needs Assessment Findings District of Columbia • The most common types of fraud or abuse were double billing for services already paid by Medicare or billing for services that were never performed. • Sending unsolicited medical equipment (i. e. diabetes shoes, eye glasses) • Most of the fraud cases are perpetrated through unsolicited house visits and/or calls by salespeople • There is a lack of information available on Medicare fraud in Spanish. Working the. Older Lives Adults, of Hispanic Older Working to Improve the Lives to of Improve Hispanic their Families, and Caregivers Adults, Their Families, and Their Communities

Needs Assessment Findings Florida • The most common types of fraud or abuse were double billing for services already paid by Medicare or billing for services that were never performed. • Providing patients with extra services (manicure, pedicure) to keep them enrolled in a specific medical center. • Providing non-medical products (i. e. fans, pans, etc. ) with the Medicare card • Giving bonuses to patients to keep them enrolled in a specific medical center • Most of the fraud cases are perpetrated through calls by salespeople • There is a dearth of information available on Medicare fraud in Spanish. Almost all Hispanic older adults who participated in the assessment said that they had not seen any information available on Medicare fraud in Spanish. They did not know of any organization where they can call to report fraud in Spanish. Working the. Older Lives Adults, of Hispanic Older Working to Improve the Lives to of Improve Hispanic their Families, and Caregivers Adults, Their Families, and Their Communities

Volunteerism IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY Working the. Older Lives Adults, of Hispanic Older Working to Improve the Lives to of Improve Hispanic their Families, and Caregivers Adults, Their Families, and Their Communities

Latino/Hispanic Characteristics § Familismo (Familism): The concept reflects the importance of the family at all levels § Fatalismo (Fatalism ): Control ( over what happened- and will happen-has an external locus Working to Improve the Lives of Hispanic Older Adults, Their Families, and Their Communities

Latino/Hispanic Characteristics • Respeto (Respect): based on age, experience, or service • Personalismo (Personalism): relationship with the individual rather than with the institution § Plática: friendly conversation § Confianza Mutua: mutual trust Working to Improve the Lives of Hispanic Older Adults, Their Families, and Their Communities

Historic Roots • Come from systems where governments and churches are responsible for providing the majority of social services • Culture-specific values such familismo and collectivism have a strong impact in shaping Hispanic models of volunteering • Voluntary actions are far more personalized and informal and less institutionalized than those of mainstream Working the. Older Lives Adults, of Hispanic Older Working to Improve the Lives to of Improve Hispanic their Families, and Caregivers Adults, Their Families, and Their Communities

Volunteerism within the Latino Culture • Strong religious-cultural traditions have been a mainstay of Latino communities • Faith-based networks have provided a variety of informal and formal mutual aid services for established and recent immigrant Latino families • What is least understood by mainstream institutions, is the multiplicity of financial and economic survival activities that occur informally among Latino community members when specific family ‘crises’ arise • Latino help networks display entrenched bicultural/bilingual traditions, enduring and deep trust relationships and mutual reciprocity behaviors Working the. Older Lives Adults, of Hispanic Older Working to Improve the Lives to of Improve Hispanic their Families, and Caregivers Adults, Their Families, and Their Communities

Informal volunteerism Culture of “doing favors” / Helping others It is not part of their history Characteristics of Latino Volunteerism Latinos do not volunteer like mainstream Americans Free cooperation Altruistic Working the. Older Lives Adults, of Hispanic Older Working to Improve the Lives to of Improve Hispanic their Families, and Caregivers Adults, Their Families, and Their Communities

Engaging Latinos to Volunteer • It is a process of building community, relationships, and trust with Hispanic communities • Hispanic Engagement and authentic engagement strategies that create advocates for people, neighborhoods and issues within communities Working the. Older Lives Adults, of Hispanic Older Working to Improve the Lives to of Improve Hispanic their Families, and Caregivers Adults, Their Families, and Their Communities

1. Relationship 6. Respect 2. La Cultura 6 Strategies for Hispanic Engagement 5. Be a Resource 3. Go to la Gente 4. Collaborate Working the. Older Lives Adults, of Hispanic Older Working to Improve the Lives to of Improve Hispanic their Families, and Caregivers Adults, Their Families, and Their Communities

Inviting Participation (recruitment) Use strategies that take into account cultural characteristics Invite people (personal approach) to volunteer Extend invitations to volunteer through visits or phone calls Use Spanish radio to issue invitations Expect the whole family to attend the meeting for volunteer Choose meeting spaces that are familiar to the people Make meetings social events Working the. Older Lives Adults, of Hispanic Older Working to Improve the Lives to of Improve Hispanic their Families, and Caregivers Adults, Their Families, and Their Communities

Inviting Participation (recruitment) Deliver information in Spanish if people are Spanish speakers Stress that their skills and talents will make a difference in their families and their community Initially recruit for short-term assignments Simplify paperwork and explain why it is needed Don’t become discouraged by limited response. Keep asking Working the. Older Lives Adults, of Hispanic Older Working to Improve the Lives to of Improve Hispanic their Families, and Caregivers Adults, Their Families, and Their Communities

Recruiting Latino Volunteers § Introduce your organization’s mission and goals and how they apply and benefit volunteers’ families and the Latino community § Emphasize the idea that anybody can be a volunteer regardless of his or her gender, age, religion, race, or economic and educational level § Recruiting Latinos as volunteers needs to be done on a one-to-one basis Working the. Older Lives Adults, of Hispanic Older Working to Improve the Lives to of Improve Hispanic their Families, and Caregivers Adults, Their Families, and Their Communities

Retaining Latino Volunteers • As with strategies for recruitment, the support provided to volunteers must take into account their daily life experience and the influence of culture • • • Create a welcoming environment Find time to visit with volunteers Reinforce personal relationships continuously Offer food, even if it is only a beverage Create a multi-cultural office program environment Review program policies and practices to identify those that might discourage Latino participation • Working the. Older Lives Adults, of Hispanic Older Working to Improve the Lives to of Improve Hispanic their Families, and Caregivers Adults, Their Families, and Their Communities

Retaining Latino Volunteers Get Ready to Face Challenges • • Be prepared to provide child care as needed Be prepared to help with transportation Avoid out of pocket expenses Take into consideration work schedules when planning meetings for volunteers and scheduling volunteer hours Provide Skills • Provide quality training that builds on the knowledge and experience of volunteers • Consider a mentoring approach to training • Involve volunteers in planning as well as carrying out plans Working the. Older Lives Adults, of Hispanic Older Working to Improve the Lives to of Improve Hispanic their Families, and Caregivers Adults, Their Families, and Their Communities

Retaining Latino Volunteers • Invite them to work within a diverse work committee or group. Be sure that they have somebody they already trust in the group • Make reminder calls. This helps not only to remind them of their task or meeting but also to build a relationship • Recognition of their work must be designed within the cultural context • Involve the entire family § Build a relationship and establish trust with the Latino community § Thank them Working the. Older Lives Adults, of Hispanic Older Working to Improve the Lives to of Improve Hispanic their Families, and Caregivers Adults, Their Families, and Their Communities

Working to Improve the Lives of Hispanic Older Adults, Their Families, and Their Communities

¡Muchas Gracias! NNati NATIONAL HISPANIC COUNCIL ON AGING MARIA EUGENIA HERNANDEZ-LANE VICE PRESIDENT PHONE: 202 -347 -9733 EMAIL: MLANE@NHCOA. ORG Working the. Older Lives Adults, of Hispanic Older Working to Improve the Lives to of Improve Hispanic their Families, and Caregivers Adults, Their Families, and Their Communities