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Experts tell Georgia senators Black caregivers face higher burden and need tailored outreach
Summary
Researchers and advocacy groups told a Senate study committee that Black caregivers' particularly Black men' face higher caregiving burden, underreporting, and barriers to diagnosis and services; presenters urged culturally tailored outreach, peer support and expanded research participation.
Researchers and advocates told the Senate study committee in Augusta that caregiving burdens are not evenly distributed: Black families and men in particular face higher prevalence of dementia in their communities, greater financial burden, and barriers to accessing diagnosis and services.
Dr. Karen Moss (Ohio State) outlined programs aimed at Black caregivers and noted underreporting and cultural barriers that reduce help-seeking. Beverly Berry (Alzheimer's Association DEI) cited the Association's race-and-dementia report showing higher caregiving demands and reports of discrimination when seeking care. Dr. Robert Turner summarized recruitment and findings from targeted research with Black men: when engaged through faith-based and community channels, Black men will participate in research, but caregivers in the study reported higher depressive symptoms, sleep disruption and working-memory effects linked to caregiving stress.
Panelists recommended: expand culturally tailored outreach (faith, community events, male-focused programs such as "Hoops for Health"), increase diversity in health systems and research, provide peer-to-peer programs that are virtual and flexible, and offer on-site respite or older-adult care at events to enable caregiver participation in training and support.
Senators acknowledged the gaps and signaled interest in follow-up work to identify concrete policy or programmatic steps.
