HFA to Address Diversity and End-of-Life Care

In May 2007, the US Census Bureau released information about the growth of minority populations in the United States. "About one in three U.S. residents is a minority," said Census Bureau Director Louis Kincannon. "To put this into perspective, there are more minorities in this country today than there were people in the United States in 1910. In fact, the minority population in the U.S. is larger than the total population of all but 11 countries."

Hospices and other organizations that care for people at the end of life are gaining an increasing awareness of the need to learn more about incorporating cultural competency into their care. HFA's 16th annual National Bereavement Teleconference will focus on Diversity and End-of-Life Care. The program, which will be broadcast Wednesday, April 29, 2009, will look at how diversity may influence end-of-life decision making, and the impact that culture may have at the time of death and during bereavement. One of the goals of the teleconference is to increase sensitivity by helping professionals acknowledge how their own cultural values and assumptions influence the delivery of care. The program will include a special examination of hospice care and diversity, including how hospices are reaching out to diverse groups and incorporating traditional practices and alternative therapies. The program will also discuss the challenges that may occur when culture considerations may cause ethical concerns or moral distress.