Black History Month: Celebrating Caregivers of Color

Black family gathered around a grandmother reading to them.

Black older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers face unique challenges in finding high-quality, culturally-competent supports. In honor of Black History Month, we explore resources to help Black families age in place and celebrate their heritage.

Resources for Black Caregivers and Older Adults

Did you know that…

More than one in five Black caregivers pay for care-related expenses,
One in three African American and Black caregivers report being more isolated and strained due to caregiving,
And that one in four Black caregivers report that they have no family, friends, or family to help them with caregiving duties?

Together, these paint a distressing picture of how urgently Black and African American caregivers need support. From navigating the healthcare industry to finding qualified and culturally-competent services, Black caregivers face unique challenges that can worsen over time.

Thankfully, there are plenty of resources available to help African American and Black caregivers. Let’s explore some programs and organizations that could provide much-needed support:

1) Caregiving While Black (CWB) Course

Co-produced by Black caregivers, persons living with dementia, and healthcare professionals from Emory University, CWB is an online education course tailored for Black and African American caregivers of a person living with dementia.

The CWB course addresses the disparities that Black and African American families face when accessing healthcare and caregiving resources. The course is built around finding solutions and answers to three main themes:

To learn more and sign up for the CWB course, visit their website here.

2) Programs by the Roxbury Presbyterian Church

For Boston locals, the events and opportunities from the Roxbury Presbyterian Church can help you work through difficult topics.

Some of these programs include:

Men’s trauma recovery
Racism and healing
Community trauma healing
Loss, grief, and hope through words, poetry, and song
A support group for mothers who lost children

For Black and African American Roxbury residents, these programs are a unique opportunity to connect with others who have experienced challenges in life.

The mission of the Roxbury Presbyterian Church is to create and implement educational and economic development programs for the Roxbury community. Programs are secular and open to all regardless of religious affiliation.

For a full list of programming, please visit the RPC’s website here.

3) Caregiver Solutions Program

According to Generations, Black caregivers felt that their race and ethnicity contributed to limited access to education and resources for healthcare and caregivers support.

That’s why Boston Senior Home Care’s Caregiver Solutions program is here to provide equitable and individualized resources for Black caregivers. Our skilled caregiver advisors are here to listen to your personal story and connect you to trustworthy supports for your needs.

The Caregiver Solutions Program can provide referrals and access to:

Financial assistance
Adult Day Health programs
Mental health counseling services
Guardianship and estate planning specialists
In-home care services
Support groups
Technology and security monitoring services

Through on-demand language line technology, our information and referral specialists can assist caregivers and families speaking languages such as Spanish, Cape Verdean Creole, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, and more. To connect with an expert and learn about culturally-aware caregiver resources, call us at 617-292-6211.

4) The National Caucus and Center on Black Aging (NCBA)

If you’re looking for resources for Black older adults outside of Massachusetts, the NCBA is a go-to point of contact. The NCBA is the leading national organization on issues impacting African American and low-income minority older adults.

The NCBA provides culturally-aware programs and services to help Black older adults gain employment, access healthcare services, and find affordable housing. To view a full list of their resources and programs, visit their website here.

5) Caribbean Foundation of Boston

For Bostonians of Afro-Caribbean heritage, the Caribbean Foundation of Boston provides culturally-aware services to the older adults and physically challenged people of Dorchester, Mattapan, and Roxbury.

The Caribbean Foundation of Boston provides the following services:

Home health aides
Friendly visitor program
Urban community homemaking

The goal of the Caribbean Foundation of Boston is to promote a lifestyle of independence and supportive care so that people can remain at home. To learn more, please contact the Caribbean Foundation of Boston at 617-445-1228.

Ways to Celebrate Black History Month in Boston

Beyond support for everyday caregiving and aging needs, let’s explore exciting ways you and your loved ones can celebrate Black History Month in Boston this year.

1) Black Veterans Appreciation Luncheon

On February 22nd, the City of Boston is hosting a free luncheon to honor the contributions and sacrifices of Black Veterans. The event will be held at Boston City Hall from 10:30 AM – 2:30 PM. To learn more and RSVP, contact the City of Boston Veterans Services Department at [email protected], or call 617-241-8387.

2) Museum of African American History

As the birthplace of Boston’s Abolitionist Movement, the Museum of African American History has several exciting exhibits and activities planned throughout February. Visit their website to view upcoming events featuring the legacies of heroes such as Frederick Douglas, Sojourner Truth, and William Cooper Nell.

3) Age Strong’s Black Heritage Celebration

The Boston Age Strong Commission is hosting their annual Black Heritage Celebration on Friday, February 28th. This luncheon event is a wonderful way to gather and celebrate Black community leaders.

To RSVP or learn more, please contact Nuria Silva at 617-635-3979 or email [email protected]. Transportation may be arranged for parties of more than 10 people.

Boston Senior Home Care and the Caregiver Solutions program remain dedicated to supporting caregivers, older adults, and people with disabilities of all races and ethnic backgrounds. We’re here to be a resource for African American families to help them age with health and pride.

To speak with a qualified information and referral specialist about finding culturally-aware support for you and your loved one, contact us at 617-292-6211.