Language Barriers and Long-Term Care Growing Concern

Language barriers pose challenges for caregivers, care recipients, and their families in long-term care facilities and in-home care providers alike. 

English is the most prevalent language spoken in the United States; however, there are over 300 languages spoken in the U.S. today. Today, Spanish is by far the most prevalent non-English language, although that was not always the case. 

Many older adults living in long-term care facilities speak English as a second language or may not speak English at all. Plus, many caregivers have language barriers as well. 

The delivery of quality long-term health care services may be affected by these language barriers, which are expected to increase in the decades ahead. 

In the United Kingdom, 98% are the population are English speakers. However, especially in recent years, many other languages are now being spoken in the U.K. For example, English and French are the official languages in Canada, in addition to many other languages that are actually being spoken in the country. 

In Australia, more than 250 Indigenous languages are being spoken, including 800 dialects! Communication and aging are global problems.

Now imagine an aging population and caregivers and other health care professionals attempting to communicate with people whose native language is not English. 

Language Barriers and Care

Ken Jenson, who runs the Colorado Springs Amada Senior Care, recalls a German woman who moved to the United States after getting married to her husband following the end of World War II. She learned English and perfectly raised her five children in the U.S. However, when she developed dementia, a communication problem developed with her caregivers. 

"As she grew older her first and really only language was English. When she turned 88, she was hit with dementia. As it progressed, she began to speak German. She really had not spoken German since before leaving Germany over 70 years earlier. Before she passed, we had a caregiver who was fluent in German caring for her. It was a match made in Heaven. She had regressed to her Native tongue. It was so touching for the family as none of them spoke German. Amazing how all she could speak before she passed was German," Jenson said.

U.S. Hispanics Have Cultural and Language Concerns

When dealing with older people, language barriers can have an adverse effect on the quality of long-term health care. An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research study revealed that more than half of Hispanic adults had encountered communication barriers in the health care system. The language barrier requires them to turn to various formal and informal sources to help overcome these obstacles. 

Many Hispanics say they are concerned about the cultural accommodations of long-term care services available in their area. Less than half say it would be easy for them to find nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home health aides that speak their language.

Language is not the only concern. Food is important to everyone, and less than 3 in 10 indicate they are concerned with the types of food that may be available in a long-term care facility. Another significant concern is respect for their religious or spiritual beliefs. Highly Roman Catholic, the availability of Mass and other spiritual concerns is a priority for many older Hispanics and their families. 

Regulations Help but Don't Apply to All

The law requires nursing homes and other long-term health care facilities to communicate medical information to residents in their native language. With the growing number of aging individuals where English is not their native language, facilities will find it increasingly challenging to handle language barriers.

In-home health providers are often less regulated as some providers are "off the grid" informal providers. However, most home health care agencies are making efforts to hire staff who speak other languages.  

If you have a parent or other loved one whose primary language is not English, you should consider potential language barriers when looking for care providers or facilities.

Availability of Religious Affiliated LTC Facilities

Many religious-affiliated long-term care facilities are available that can meet the spiritual needs of your family member. There are secular facilities that often have religious services for many denominations available. 

Cognitive decline creates additional problems when it comes to communication and language barriers. When a person has dementia, language barriers pose a more prominent concern over time. Those people with dementia are more likely to have problems with comprehension of language, fluency of language, reading, and writing. Many revert to their native language, which will make a difficult situation worse. 

Better in-home health agencies and long-term care facilities make significant efforts to address language and cultural issues that can make the quality of care less desirable. However, the cost of quality long-term health care services is expensive and gets more costly over time.

Costs of Long-Term Care Services Increasing

Many people are still unaware that their health insurance, including Medicare and supplements, will not pay for most long-term care services and supports. Medicaid long-term care benefits are only available for people with little or no income and assets.

Long-term care expenses are your responsibility by either self-funding, family caregivers, or Long-Term Care Insurance. Since care is expensive and family members are usually unavailable for the demanding responsibility of being caregivers, Long-Term Care Insurance is generally considered a wise choice for many families. 

The LTC NEWS Cost of Care Calculator illustrates the magnitude of the problem. You can see the current and future costs where you live by clicking here.

LTC Insurance Can Be Empowering

Long-Term Care Insurance is not appropriate for everyone. If you have little savings and income, the necessity for insurance is not there since you may easily qualify for Medicaid. Certain pre-existing health problems can make obtaining coverage more difficult or impossible since LTC Insurance is medically underwritten. 

Experts suggest speaking with a licensed and qualified Long-Term Care Insurance specialist who works with the major companies. The specialist can advise you if coverage is appropriate and match your age, health, and family history with the right company to get the best coverage at the lowest cost. 

Find a trusted and experienced specialist by clicking here.

The financial costs and burdens associated with longevity will impact you, your family, your income and assets, your lifestyle, and your legacy. Concern for your choice of quality care is another consideration. 

LTC Insurance is an integral part of planning that should occur when you are younger, ideally in your 40s or 50s, when you still enjoy reasonably good health and premiums are at their lowest. There are many considerations, including access to quality care and communication and cultural considerations. When you own a policy, you are in control and avoid being dependent on others.