Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s makes the caregiver more religious if he or she is African-American or Hispanic, a survey released this month by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America concludes.

“Church is where Hispanic people go for comfort,” says Nancy Rodrigues, active in the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “I think most Hispanics like to receive guidance from their religious leaders.”

The survey, conducted by Harris Interactive, also found both minorities believe they lack in having an adequate number of support groups within the framework of their specific religious or ethnic background. Yet they expressed belief that their religious leaders have served them well. Thirty-six percent of Hispanics said they could have used more support from the clergy, while 46percent of blacks said that.

Despite that, 47 percent of African-American respondents and 50 percent of Hispanic caregivers “were significantly more likely to currently use a support group” than caregivers of other races (29 percent), said the polling organization.

The report said, “religious respondents overall were more likely to have access to a support group than non-religious respondents” – by 47 to 36 percent.

An interesting article in today’s Washington Post examines the role that race, socioeconomic status and religion play in end of life decision-making. The article also highlights much of the research that has been undertaken in trying to determine who uses hospice and palliative care services, who does not and why…

When Reverend Paul Boothby, interim minister at the Unitarian Church of Norfolk in Virginia, counsels parishioners on care for aging parents, he provides emotional support, rather than specific recommendations on care facilities.  The GMMR talked to Rev. Boothby today as part of our occasional look inside the thinking process of referral sources.  While clergy are perceived to be among those providing referrals to families on where aging relatives should live and receive care, Rev. Boothby says he doesn’t make that kind of recommendation, nor do other ministers that he knows. 

“On rare occasion, a parishioner does ask me for a recommendation on housing and care for an aging parent, but rather than recommending a facility, I work with the parishioner to facilitate the research process,” he told us.  “I help the parishioner identify priorities, to think through what would work best for the parent and the family.”

Rev. Boothby says with the aging population, he is seeing this issue affect an increasing number of people in his congregation.