Articles by Pramod Sukumaran

Latinos Diabetes Patients Much More Likely to Undergo Amputations

May 10, 2019

Latinos Daibetes Patients Much More Likely to Undergo Amputations Than Whites

Diabetes development can lead to numerous life-changing complications when the disease spirals out of control, including the amputation of limbs. As the prevalence of the illness continues to rise––30 million Americans are estimated to have diabetes––black and Latino patients are more likely to have an amputation compared to non-Hispanic whites, CNN reports. Diabetic foot complications exact a substantial clinical and economic toll in acute care settings, particularly among the rural and working poor. The Centers for Disease Control reports that in 2014, an estimated 29.1 million adults in the United States, or 9.3% of the adult population, had diabetes. In California (39.1% Latino), minority groups were more than twice as likely as whites to undergo amputations, ...

Medicare’s ‘What’s Covered’ Mobile App Now in Spanish

May 6, 2019

U.S. Latinos are at higher risk for diabetes, obesity, and other health conditions than their White peers. Yet they face many barriers in accessing Medicare and other healthcare coverage. A new app can help these Latinos. Medicare's first and only app, “What’s covered,” is now available in English or Spanish. The app delivers accurate cost, coverage, and eligibility details for Original Medicare Part A and Part B items and services. The app is free on both the App Store and Google Play. To download the app in Spanish, just search for “Qué está cubierto.” What Can the App Do? Medicare's new app takes some of the most popular information from the Medicare website. It ensures beneficiaries have personalized, accessible guidance to make informed decisions about their ...

Could Accessory Dwelling Units Help Affordable Housing Crises?

May 3, 2019

The American housing market is at its least affordable in 10 years. Home prices in California (39.1% Latino), which are among the highest in the U.S., have risen due to the state's rapid population growth and construction efforts being unable to keep up. In Los Angeles County (48.6%), more than 15,000 individuals live in cars, vans, and mobile homes — it is home to the country’s highest number of unsheltered homeless people. Yet, more than half the land Los Angeles and San Fransisco is filled by neighborhoods in which 90% of housing units are single-family homes, according to a recent New York Times report. In hopes of helping reduce these problems, the California state legislature passed numerous reforms reducing regulations on accessory dwelling units over the past two ...

Addressing the Social Determinants of Brain Health

April 29, 2019

By Jason Resendez and Stephanie Monroe UsAgainstAlzheimer’s Alzheimer’s Disease Disparities Engagement Network This month is National Minority Health Month and across the country communities are reflecting on the numerous challenges and injustices people of color face when it comes to healthcare in the U.S. For example, African Americans and Latinos face a higher risk for some of our country’s most common health problems, including obesity, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, high blood pressure, stroke, Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To understand and address these disparities, greater attention must be paid to the role of the social determinants of health like income inequality, housing and food security, and educational opportunity. We know that this approach ...

Report: Housing Costs Significantly Can Impact Health Care

April 26, 2019

Family on home porch steps affordable housing

Access to affordable housing can provide numerous benefits to renters and buyers, including leading healthier lives. A new survey from the affordable housing nonprofit Enterprise Community Partners establishes the connection between homes and wellness. It also goes to show that rent-burdened Americans suffer through potentially damaging delays in medical care due to their limited budget. The report discovered more than 50% of renters had delayed medical care because they could not afford it. Moreover, 100% of medical professionals surveyed said their patients had expressed concerns about affordable housing. How Does Housing Impact Health? Survey's like Enterprise's go to show how nonprofit, governmental housing groups are beginning to view housing and health as ...

Latinos the Only Ethnic Group with Net Growth in U.S. Homeownership

April 19, 2019

Latinos now account for the majority of homeownership growth in the U.S., according to recent findings from the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP). The report analyzes information such as labor force participation, household formation, median income, and aspirational interest, among other factors, to evaluate different demographics' roles in overall homeownership gains. It also provides insight into how Latinos are fairing in the current housing market. The data shows that Latinos are the only racial or ethnic demographic with positive homeownership rates over the last four years. "Over the past decade, Hispanics have accounted for 62.7% of net U.S. homeownership gains, growing from 6,303,000 homeowners to 7,877,000, a total increase of ...

The CHANGE Act on Alzheimer’s: How Will It Impact Latinos?

April 18, 2019

nurse with hispanic latino older couple diabetes pancreatic cancer patient coronavirus covid-19

The U.S. burden of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia will more than double within 50 years, and Latinos will suffer the biggest rise, according to the CDC. Alzheimer’s is the only top-10 cause of death without an effective treatment or cure. However, new legislation is targeting this rising crisis. The CHANGE Act The CHANGE Act takes a targeted approach to addressing our nation’s Alzheimer’s crisis by encouraging early detection, diagnosis, and access to interventions, according to UsAgainstAlzheimer's. The CHANGE Act was introduced by eight U.S. Senators, including two Latinos, Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Linda Sanchez (D-CA). Some of the senators are Republican, some Democrat. The latest emerging science indicates that proactive, risk-modifying measures exist ...

Affordable Housing for Seniors: A Reality Check and a Roadmap

April 12, 2019

Many senior citizens live on fixed incomes. Unfortunately, programs such as Social Security aren’t always enough to pay for living expenses — including housing. U.S. housing costs are at its least affordable in 10 years. The rising price and the lack of affordable options strain the well-being of the seniors, especially Latinos. The Issue of Housing Affordability for Seniors Many seniors are not as financially prepared for retirement as they would like. Their income may be reduced, and their lifestyle costs may increase as well. The house where they raised their kids may no longer fit their needs or their budget. An increase in home prices could provide opportunities to relocate for retirement. In fact, housing is often a terrible investment if not planned wisely. ...

Latinos Face Discrimination When Up for Promotion, Even in the Military

April 5, 2019

Latinos historically face discrimination in the hiring and promotion processes. A few years ago, a Harvard study found that one-third of Latinos say they were discriminated against when applying for jobs (33%) or when being paid equally or considered for promotions (32%). Now a recent report says discrimination extends to military promotions. Latinos Rarely Promoted to High Military Ranks Latinos have a “proud and indeed enviable” record of military service. Today, the Latino share of the active-duty force has continued to rise. In 2015, 12% of all active-duty personnel were Latino, up from 9% in 2004, according to Pew Research. But between 1995 and 2016, only one Latino had become a three-star general, even as the number of active-duty Latino officers more than doubled, ...

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Pramod Sukumaran

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