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Hispanic Council on Aging Adds CEO to Face Boom in
Elderly
Nov. 29, 2004--The National Hispanic Council on
Aging (NHCOA), a national organization that seeks to improve the quality
of life for the Hispanic elderly, announced today that it has named
Yanira L. Cruz, M.P.H., as its new president and CEO. The number of
elderly among the Hispanic population is expected to triple by 2050. The
Hispanic elderly population is expected to jump fourfold, from 4 percent
of the total elderly population in 1990 to 16 percent by 2050, according
to the U.S. Census.
Charlie Mendoza, board chairman of NHCOA, said Cruz
is the right person at the right time to serve the organization. The
NHCOA Board of Directors will introduce Cruz at a formal reception Nov.
30 from 6-8 p.m. at the Mexican Cultural Institute, 2829 16th St. NW,
Washington, DC.
Yanira Cruz has the skills, the professional
background and the empathy and understanding to help NHCOA address the
growing problems that face the elderly Hispanic population today,
Mendoza said. She sincerely cares about older Hispanics, and were
absolutely thrilled to have her.
Cruz is also an adjunct professor of public health
at George Washington University in Washington. Before joining NHCOA,
Cruz served as executive director and chief operating officer of the
Hispanic-Serving Health Professions Schools (HSHPS) in Washington. She
joined HSHPS after serving as director of the Institute for Hispanic
Health at the National Council of La Raza (NCLR).
As NHCOA new president, Cruz will focus on
improving the quality of life for the Hispanic elderly and their
families and communities through public policy, educational efforts,
community-based interventions, capacity building and technical
assistance.
My first priority is to raise national awareness
of the increasing critical issues facing the Hispanic elderly to give
them a voice, Cruz said. Poverty remains disproportionately high among
Hispanic elderly. In addition, the Latino elderly, which is increasingly
becoming a larger proportion of our nations population, is severely
underrepresented in health care access.
According to the U.S. Census, the number of elderly
increased elevenfold between 1900 and 1994, while the general population
has only tripled.
Many Americans are living longer, and the health
problems facing Hispanics will only grow if left untreated, crippling
younger generations and perhaps society, Cruz said.
Hispanic senior citizens face an increasing number
of chronic illnesses, lack of housing, jobs and the ability to buy food,
clothing and basic necessities, NHCOA says.
For example, many Latinos cant afford basic
prescription drugs, so they are going to Tijuana and other border towns
to buy medicine for less. But the quality of medication there may not be
the best, Cruz said. We have to address these and other problems.
The health care industry also is ill prepared to
deal with the demands of this emerging population, including offering
culturally and linguistically appropriate services. Were calling on
the government and health care policymakers to help us serve this
population, Cruz said. This is a crisis.
To do its part, NHCOA brings its national outreach
to different regions of the country. For example, NHCOA offers low and
moderate income housing to older Hispanics at Casa Iris in Washington,
DC, and Mira Vista in Garden City, KS, to prevent their premature and
unnecessary institutionalization.
Many Latino elderly are falling behind with
technology, Mendoza said. We need to help educate them by reaching out
to them in their communities, churches and groups and teach them about
computers so they can communicate with their families and government
agencies on Medicare and other critical issues.
In Washington, Casa Iris will begin offering
classes soon so Hispanic seniors can learn to use a computer. Were
going to put 15 computers into Casa Iris and bring everyone there into
the 21st century, Mendoza said. Were hoping they will learn how to
communicate more inexpensively and more frequently with their family
members.
Family plays a central role for Latinos and
contributes to a healthier and longer life for them nearly four years
more than their counterparts. The Latino culture and lifestyle
including strong ties to family and community and an active spiritual
and work life are positive influences in the health status of elderly
Latinos.
Based in Washington, DC, NHCOA is dedicated to
improving the quality of life for Hispanic elderly and their families
and communities through public policy, education and community-based
programs. NHCOA is a member-based, nonprofit organization with 35
affiliates and chapters across the United States. Established in 1979,
NHCOA focuses on keeping its national members informed on critical
issues for Latino seniors, particularly pertaining to health, income,
education, employment, housing, strengthening families and building
communities. For more information, the council has a Website under
construction at
http://www.nhcoa.org/.
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