National Medical Association Receives Support
From John A. Hartford Foundation to Address End-of-Life Care for
Older Adult Populations in Communities of Color
SILVER SPRING, MD – The John A. Hartford Foundation has awarded $39,200 to the National Medical Association to address end-of-life care for older adult populations in communities of color.
Older adults from racial and ethnic minorities face persistent and pervasive health disparities. They often face multiple barriers – language barriers, personal biases and assumptions, and lack of knowledge – that prevent them from getting adequate care. As the general population ages, it is imperative that healthcare providers understand and recognize how to work with older adults and their family members from various backgrounds, age groups, gender, ethnicity, physical ability, gender identity, sexual identity, and other cultural considerations. The grant provides funding to train and enable physicians to recognize, have space for, and remain curious about, the experiences and lives of African American older adult patients and their families.
Patients from racial and ethnic minority groups and their physicians often have different cultural views of how health care should be structured and delivered, and failure of physicians to understand, appreciate, and accommodate these differences may contribute to the perpetuation of existing health disparities. “As the organization serving as the leading force for parity and justice in medicine and the elimination of disparities in health, the National Medical Association supports the effective, equitable, and respectful provision of health care services to diverse populations,” said Joy D. Calloway, MBA, MHSA, NMA’s executive director.
The John A. Hartford Foundation
The John A. Hartford Foundation, based in New York City, is a private, nonpartisan, national philanthropy dedicated to improving the care of older adults. The leader in the field of aging and health, the Foundation has three priority areas: creating age friendly health systems, supporting family caregivers, and improving serious illness and end-of-life care.
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“The NMA promotes the collective interests of physicians and patients of African Descent. We carry out this mission by serving as the collective voice of physicians of African Descent and a leading voice for parity in medicine, elimination of health disparities and promotion of optimal health.“
Garfield Clunie, MD Contact: Michael Peery
President (312) 217-2260
