Reasons to be Cheerful Features AC Care Alliance

In a article entitled “Black Churches in California Lead the Way to Quality End-of-Life Care," (2023) author Sandra Larson discussed the racial disparities affecting Americans’ end-of-life medical care and whether or not they document their wishes through advance directives and other legal documents. “Among older Americans, just 24 percent of Black people had advance directives according to a 2014 study, while 44 percent of white people did.” Larson features AC Care Alliance’s unique positioning to help bridge the gap and address this disparity through the Advanced Illness Care Program (AICP), the ACCA Care Planning Workbook which was created with input from the community, and the work of Care Navigators with lived experience who build trust in people who often are mistrustful of the traditional medical system.

“Many of our participants haven’t heard of advance care planning before and may have misconceptions about what it is. Many have medical mistrust,” says Steinmetz. “[But] if wishes are not documented, it can lead to care that may not have been wanted or more pain and suffering that may not have been needed.”

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Black Churches in California Lead the Way to Quality End-of-Life Care