MILWAUKEE \u2014 For years, Wisconsin\u2019s Latino families have struggled to find memory care that truly speaks their language, not just in translation, but in trust. Now, a partnership between the University of Wisconsin\u2013Madison and Milwaukee\u2019s United Community Center aims to change that by training future doctors to deliver culturally grounded dementia care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The new bilingual dementia course at UW\u2013Madison\u2019s School of Medicine and Public Health, led by Dr. Mar\u00eda Mora Pinz\u00f3n, is the first of its kind in the state. It teaches medical students how to recognize and respond to dementia symptoms within Latino communities, where cultural stigma, language barriers and limited access to specialists have long delayed diagnosis and care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Latinos are 1.5 times<\/a> more likely than white Americans to develop Alzheimer\u2019s disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Yet fewer than 10 percent of Latino older adults with dementia receive a formal diagnosis. And almost 9 out of 10 Hispanics<\/strong> say it is important for Alzheimer\u2019s and dementia care providers to understand their ethnic or racial background and experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As Wisconsin\u2019s Hispanic population continues to grow, public health experts warn that a shortage of bilingual providers could deepen the gap in timely diagnosis and support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere is a lack of culturally and linguistically appropriate dementia services in many communities,\u201d said Jenner Steiner, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer of the United Community Center in a statement to the Wisconsin Latino News. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor example, language barriers between families and healthcare or social service providers remain a significant challenge, often delaying or limiting access to timely and adequate support,\u201d she continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The United Community Center, located in Milwaukee\u2019s South Side, has become a model for community-based care since launching its Latino Geriatric Center in 2007. The clinic\u2019s bilingual staff, including a nurse, psychologist and neurologist, provides diagnostic screenings, caregiver education and long-term support for Latino families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The clinic is part of the Wisconsin Alzheimer\u2019s Institute\u2019s statewide network of 40 affiliated dementia diagnostic clinics<\/a>, which together provide care to more than 3,000 new patients annually, many from rural and underserved communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stigma remains one of the most persistent barriers. Within many Latino households, dementia is often misunderstood or hidden, viewed as a normal part of aging or a sign of instability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe term ‘dementia’ is often associated with being \u201ccrazy\u201d or mentally unstable, and symptoms are frequently viewed as a normal part of aging, delaying early diagnosis and treatment. \u201d said Steiner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even when families do seek care, literacy and language can present further challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPrinted or web-based materials, even when translated into Spanish, may be written at a higher reading level than many can comfortably understand,\u201d Steiner said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBased on UCC\u2019s experience since 2007, most Latino clients prefer simple, conversational Spanish or English and value direct, personal communication over written materials,” she continued. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That preference reflects the Latino cultural value of personalismo<\/em>, a trust built through personal, warm interactions. When interpretation replaces direct communication, emotional cues and meaning can be lost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The UW\u2013Madison course addresses those nuances head-on. Developed in collaboration with UCC, the elective integrates cultural competency and real-world case studies into medical training. Students\u00a0learn<\/a>\u00a0to discuss diagnoses with empathy, address misconceptions, and approach memory loss through a culturally informed lens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDiagnosing Latinos and working with Latino groups is slightly different,\u201d said Dr. Mar\u00eda Mora Pinz\u00f3n, who leads the bilingual dementia course at UW\u2013Madison\u2019s School of Medicine and Public Health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s not only about having all the tests in Spanish, but about what other evaluations are needed to get that comprehensive picture,\u201d she told\u00a0CBS 58<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mora Pinz\u00f3n said the goal of the new course is to prepare future physicians to provide care that goes beyond translation and to truly understand the cultural context of their Latino patients. The program is designed to help students learn strategies for working with Spanish-speaking families and understand how cultural perspectives influence care, according to a\u00a0UW\u2013Madison release<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n National data shows the urgency of this work. The\u00a0Alzheimer\u2019s Association\u00a0projects that nearly 14 million Americans will live with dementia by 2060, with the largest increases among Hispanic and Black populations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n