Purpose

The purpose of the task force is to promote the effective delivery of services to minority elderly through advocacy and support.

The US population is aging dramatically, and minority persons constitute the fastest growing segment of the elderly population. It is estimated that by the year 2050, the population of minority elderly will increase by 500%. Minority persons are identified as one of four non-European populations: African American, Hispanic, Native American, and Asian/Pacific Islander. These four ethnic categories represent diverse, heterogeneous populations with very distinct cultural groups. Each group generally ages differently culturally, physically, and emotionally; therefore, it is the purpose of the task force to provide information and services that reflect the dynamic nature of the population and its needs.

Task Force Initiatives

Cultural competence is a journey of understanding, critical thinking, recognition of institutional barriers and an expansion of thought in order to communicate and behave appropriately. Cultural competence also goes beyond the distinction of race and ethnicity. It expands to include all disabilities, social classes, genders, religions, beliefs, and more.

Cultural competence is defined as behaviors and attitudes integrated into the practice methods of a system, agency, or its professionals, that enables them to work effectively in a cross-cultural situation. Cultural competence is the integration and transformation of knowledge about individuals and groups of people into specific standards, policies, practices, and attitudes used in appropriate cultural settings to increase the quality of service, producing better outcomes.

In the process of becoming more culturally competent, organizations begin to better serve their stakeholders and consumers by better serving their consumers' needs and being a part of, rather than just delivering services to, their communities.

Members of the Oklahoma Task Force on Minority Aging are actively involved in the following areas:

  • Mental Health & Aging
  • Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
  • Cultural Competency Training
  • Grassroots Advocacy
  • Community Outreach
  • Caregiving Issues
  • Disaster Planning
  • Geriatric Medicine
  • Coalition Building
  • Health Promotion
  • Gerontology/Geriatric Education
  • Training and Curriculum Development

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