Latinos and dying with dignity

At present, Latinos comprise of 16.3% of the total U.S. population, and are the largest minority group in the United States. However, this minority group makes up only 4% of the total enrollees nationally registering for hospice care each year. Previous studies have stated that there is a direct correlation between length of time in the United States and hospice use by Latinos, showing that the longer they are residents in the United States, the more likely Latinos will be to enroll in hospice care. However, other studies have argued that acculturation does not alter findings related to cultural influences on end-of-life preferences. Latinos are less receptive than Whites to having advanced directives in place, which allows Latino families to make decisions for their loved ones, instead of the individual choosing what they want. Latinos also report a keen reliance on family members for aid and assistance. Continually, Latino's needs are not being met for end-of-life care