HFA 2009 Teleconference - National Volunteers Week and Diversity

Diversity and End-of-Life Care

Caminando Juntos (English translation, “Walk with Me”) for Capital Hospice’s Spanish-speaking patients in the greater Washington, D.C. area. Julia, originally from Cuba, and Carlos, originally from Peru, were drawn to volunteer work after a dear friend died in the care of Capital Hospice. We interviewed Mr. and Mrs. Villa in conjunction with our 2009 teleconference, and asked them to tell us about their hospice volunteer work in the Hispanic/Latino community. Here is a brief excerpt from their interview; more of their interview was featured on HFA’s 2009, “Diversity and End-of-Life Care” on April 29.

INTERVIEWER:  As an experienced volunteer, what message would you give to hospices trying to reach the Hispanic/Latino community?

CARLOS:  Based on my experience as a volunteer, I would tell hospice programs that it's very important to be proactive.  You cannot wait for them to know about hospice in the Hispanic community, and it's very important to be very proactive and tell the story of hospice at the places where they go for health care or even -- very important to tell the story of hospice in the faith communities. Once they know the people of hospice you know they will trust and they will be very open to receiving the care.  And it's also important to tell the people in the Hispanic community that the earlier that a person receives the care, the better it is for that person and for the family, as opposed to waiting until the last few weeks or even days.

  Based on my experience as a volunteer, I would tell hospice programs that it's very important to be proactive.  You cannot wait for them to know about hospice in the Hispanic community, and it's very important to be very proactive and tell the story of hospice at the places where they go for health care or even -- very important to tell the story of hospice in the faith communities. Once they know the people of hospice you know they will trust and they will be very open to receiving the care.  And it's also important to tell the people in the Hispanic community that the earlier that a person receives the care, the better it is for that person and for the family, as opposed to waiting until the last few weeks or even days.

INTERVIEWER: Do you think it’s important to have Hispanic/Latino volunteers work with families whose loved ones are in hospice?

JULIA:  I think it's very important to have people of Hispanic origins to be working in the community for the hospice.  Because it's -- you know, anybody can be a translator.  I mean you can -- but what's important is that we understand the cultural needs of the Hispanic community. When you go to their homes -- that they feel that that you're there because you care.   I think being Hispanic I can understand where they're coming from and that has made it easier when I visit the families.

  I think it's very important to have people of Hispanic origins to be working in the community for the hospice.  Because it's -- you know, anybody can be a translator.  I mean you can -- but what's important is that we understand the cultural needs of the Hispanic community. When you go to their homes -- that they feel that that you're there because you care.   I think being Hispanic I can understand where they're coming from and that has made it easier when I visit the families.

CARLOS:  One of the wonderful things in hospice is -- well, in hospice we first do the team approach which is really like a family approach. So, it's very natural for hospice to respond to the Hispanic needs and meet the Hispanic needs -- in this case of end-of-life care in the context of the family.  Because hospice itself works that way.