Mexicans and care for the terminally ill: Family, hospice, and the church

A series of focus groups with Mexicans found important attitudes about the roles of the family, hospice services, and spirituality and the church in providing care to terminally ill individuals.

Abstract

The structural barriers to the use of hospice services by minority groups have been widely discussed. The attitudes of these groups are less clearly delineated. A series of focus groups with Mexicans was held in Michigan and Arizona. The participants were between the ages of 45 and 64 or over as well as providers of services to Mexicans. Regardless of length of time in the United States, participants were low on acculturation scores. These groups found important attitudes about the roles of the family, hospice services, and spirituality and the church in providing care to terminally ill individuals.