Initiatives Seek To Reduce Salt Intake Among Blacks, Offer Health Benefits Assistance To Hispanics, Examine Caring For People With Alzheimer's Disease

Main Category: Hypertension
Also Included In: Nutrition / Diet;  Alzheimer's / Dementia;  Public Health
Article Date: 18 Aug 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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Baltimore: The city in September will launch a six-month awareness campaign about salt intake associated with high blood pressure, particularly among blacks, the Baltimore Sun reports. According to the Sun, "In a city that is nearly 65% black, the risks of hypertension, which can lead to heart attack, kidney failure and stroke, are especially high." As part of the effort, health department officials will collaborate with health and research professionals to develop recommendations on how city officials and food suppliers can reduce salt consumption (Brewington, Baltimore Sun, 8/12).

Delaware County, Pa.: The County Office of Services for the Aging, Senior Community Services and the Hispanic Resource Center in Chester have partnered to offer help sessions to elderly Hispanic residents that focus on available health care benefits, the Delco Times reports. The sessions will help elderly Hispanic residents complete paperwork to apply for benefits, as well as inform them about Medicare, the state's Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly and other programs (Brisson, Delco Times, 8/8).

Miami: The University of Miami's Center on Aging is launching a two-year project that will examine the effects of caring for a family member with Alzheimer's disease in minority communities, the Miami Herald reports. The project will involve at about 200 Hispanic, Haitian-American and black family caregivers in South Florida. As part of the program caregivers will be given video monitors to connect with other caregivers, social workers or medical experts and watch pre-recorded videos about caring for an Alzheimer's disease patient. According to the Alzheimer's Association, nationwide, 9.8 million people in the U.S. were providing unpaid care for someone with Alzheimer's in 2007. There are few studies available that examine how caring for a person with Alzheimer's affects minority communities, the Herald reports (Beras, Miami Herald, 8/12).

Fresno, Calif.: The Family Health Care Network and the Consulate of Mexico have partnered to establish a health resource center for Mexican residents in the Central Valley, the Visalia Times-Delta reports. The center, Ventanilla de Salud, will offer health care advice and referrals, provide information on health education and wellness, and connect individuals to appropriate community-based resources (Visalia Times-Delta, 8/12).

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