Menu

In the News

Caring For Advanced Illness Through Faith Communities

For people suffering from advanced illnesses like cancer, navigating the complex worlds of palliative care and hospice can be a daunting task. Although programs to help patients exist, African American communities experience consistent disparities including a disproportionate burden of advanced illness. Five African-American churches have partnered with PHI's Center for Technology and Aging and the Alameda County Care Alliance to place "care navigators" directly into their congregations. These care navigators offer advice on advanced directives and offer guidance on housing, transportation, and respite care for caregivers.

Community health experts continue to connect with older adults through faith-based communities.

The city of Fremont did this several years ago with its Community Ambassadors Program for Seniors. From churches, temples, mosques, and synagogues to community centers and beyond, health officials found faith communities already had deep ties within ethnic communities.

So when a Pennsylvania-based foundation recently announced two grants for innovations in health care, they chose an Oakland program that addresses advanced illness through several local African-American churches.

The Alameda County Care Alliance injects “care navigators” inside five African-American churches to help congregants suffering from advanced illnesses like cancer navigate the complex worlds of palliative care and hospice. Undertaken in part by PHI’s Center for Technology and Aging, the care navigators also offer advice on advanced directives and offer guidance on housing, transportation, and respite care for caregivers.

“Despite growing national attention to advanced illness care, African Americans experience consistent disparities including a disproportionate burden of advanced illness,” says Janice Bell of the UC Davis Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, which is collaborating with the alliance to offer training and outreach. “(This program meets) the advanced illness care needs of African American community members in ways that align with their spiritual values and cultural preferences.”

Continue reading the story.

Originally published by California Health Report


More Updates

Work With Us

You change the world. We do the rest. Explore fiscal sponsorship at PHI.

Bring Your Work to PHI

Support Us

Together, we can accelerate our response to public health’s most critical issues.

Donate

Find Employment

Begin your career at the Public Health Institute.

See Jobs

Aerial view of wildfire smoke

Close

Wildfires & Extreme Heat: Resources to Protect Yourself & Your Community

Communities across the U.S. and around the world are grappling with dangerous wildfires and extreme heat. These threats disrupt and uproot communities and pose serious risks to environmental and community health—from rising temperatures, unhealthy air pollutants, water contamination and more. Find PHI tools, resources and examples to help communities take action and promote climate safety, equity and resiliency.

Get started

Continue to PHI.org