Community education is at the heart of the Latino Center on Aging’s mission. For more than three decades, LCA has used every available form of media to bring reliable, culturally relevant information to Hispanic older adults and their families—while connecting the community with the most knowledgeable experts available.

This commitment was especially visible this month through two important media reports addressing the needs and challenges of Hispanic older adults in South Florida.

First, on September 21, World Alzheimer’s Day, LCA had the privilege of helping CBS News Miami Anchor Lauren Pastrana put together a compelling report on Alzheimer’s disease and its disproportionate impact on Hispanic families. The report featured two outstanding experts from the University of Miami Department of Neurology, Dr. Annelly Bure-Reyes and Dr. Marina Sarno, who provided valuable information in a clear and culturally relevant manner. The report also highlighted LCA’s longstanding efforts to educate the Hispanic community about Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

Click on the picture below to watch this excellent CBS News Miami report.

Second, this month’s Doral Family Journal published an important article addressing the challenging conditions faced by Hispanic older adults in South Florida. The article raises serious concerns about limited access to information—and consequently, to the services and programs available to older adults in Miami-Dade County. LCA offers several recommendations to strengthen outreach, communication, and access to services, particularly for the more than 70% of Miami-Dade residents age 60 and older who are Hispanic or Latino.

We invite you to read the full article by clicking the picture below.

Miami-Dade County is changing—and nowhere is that change more evident than among its older residents.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey, Miami-Dade County has 669,336 residents age 60 and older. Of that population, 71.6% are Hispanic or Latino, representing approximately 480,000 Hispanic older adults.

More than seven out of every ten Miami-Dade residents age 60 and older are Hispanic. Census data also indicate that more than 80% rely primarily on Spanish at home. This is not simply a demographic statistic. It has profound implications for how we plan, communicate, and deliver aging services.

The question is straightforward: Does Miami-Dade County’s aging-services system adequately reflect the population it is designed to serve?

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This is the Latino Center on Aging at its best: bringing expertise to the community, bringing the community’s concerns to the public conversation, and using education and media as powerful instruments for improving the lives of older adults.