The underserved aged and the role of the African American church.

Abstract: Historically, the church has been a central institution in the life of the African American community, and caring for bodies, as well as souls, has been a critical aspect of its ministry. The significance of this role will increase in importance in the foreseeable future given the escalating costs of health care services. There is an increasing realization that churches must be involved in the provision of health services if society is to improve the health status of this population. This paper examines the role of the African American church in providing formal and informal health care services to the underserved aged. Key Words: Aged, African American Church, Religion, Medicare, Older Adults, Uninsured, Underserved. The African American church has been in the forefront of a movement of spiritual institutions to become more fully implicated in the lives of their host communities; however, the role and involvement of African American churches with underserved aged communities must evolve in response to the changing demographics and needs of their community. African American churches have and will continue to provide safety net health services for the underserved community. The current health literature reveals that the underserved population is defined as groups whose demographic, geographic, or economic characteristics impede or prevent their access to health care services (Weitz, Freund, Wright, 2001). It is important to the success and maintenance of these services that members of the underserved aged become more engaged in the critical health issues that affect them and begin to help in the development of appropriate solutions. The greater American society has failed to fully realize the depth and breadth of religious institutions' influence on the health of our communities. Currently, our society is facing a health challenge of significant importance. The projected increase in the size of the older population suggests that providing care for the underserved aged will become increasingly difficult and more complex as a function of time. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in 2000 the ethnic minority population represented 16.4% of persons 65 years or older. This number is forecasted to increase to 28% in the year 2030 and expand to 39% by the year 2050 (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2005). In 2000 there were 353,754 elderly with no health insurance (Mold, Fryer, Thomas, 2004, p. 603). According to the National Health Interview Survey, a majority of the elderly persons without insurance were ethnic minorities whom were widowed or never married. The rate of elderly African Americans with no insurance was twice the national average (Mold et al., 2004, p. 604). It is also known that 23% of African Americans have no health insurance (Becker, 2004). Additionally, elderly African Americans tend to have lower incomes and educational levels which have a substantial effect on their health status (Taylor, Chatters, Levin, 2004). These disparate conditions for elderly African Americans are important elements which affect their ability to access appropriate levels of care. Consequently, they confront a health care system that is either inaccessible or not responsive to their needs. Unfortunately, the African American church has not seized the opportunity to access available resources to pursue a strategy of health care services for the underserved aged. DISCUSSION The emergence and expansion of the African American church nas been well chronicled. The African American church has been the foremost stable institution in the African American community. According to Lincoln and Mamiya (1990), "black churches were one of the only few stable and coherent institutions to emerge from slavery. As blacks sought an outlet from the atrocities and vile acts of slavery and its aftermath, the African American church provided a haven and a sanctuary from racism and discrimination. …