ABSTRACT
Cuban Americans residing in the United States account for about 300,000 older adults, representing a significant ethnic minority group. Hence, this chapter discusses topics pertinent to the work with Cuban American families that have a loved one with a neurocognitive disorder. It reviews the history of their migration process, as well as identifies relevant factors when working with them, such as acculturation, time orientation, and religion. Advancements in the field of psychology, mainly related to ethnic sensitivity, may facilitate the work with these families. What makes this group of caregivers so unique is that they have been able to adapt to a new culture, and a new language, across various times of arrival, and still manage to have a connection to their motherland and their native culture, including their language, and their sensitivity to the extended family structure. These connections are essential to their understanding as caregivers. They are one group of people, arriving at different historical times, with great resiliency and openness to the American culture. Additionally, this chapter summarizes research findings and recommends best practices when working with Cuban American families.
