News
September 18, 2024During Hispanic Heritage Month, Consumer Directed Choices Reminds Public of its Inclusive Language Services
In conjunction with Hispanic Heritage Month, Consumer Directed Choices (CDChoices) is reminding seniors and people with disabilities of its easy-to-use language services.
With close to 15% of New Yorkers living in Spanish-speaking households and 25% of New Yorkers unable to speak English proficiently, removing language barriers is considered crucial for facilitating access to home health care.
As a non-profit that enables seniors and people with disabilities to manage their own health care, CDChoices helps people who qualify for the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) to employ a personal assistant or caregiver of their choosing. The agency currently serves more than 2330 consumers, including 55 who are Spanish speaking.
“CDChoices was founded on the belief that navigating the healthcare system should not be difficult,” said Christopher Graber, CEO of CDChoices. “That’s why we are proud to offer services inclusive of all cultural sensitivities and linguistic needs.”
CDChoices offers a range of language services for consumers. In addition to its own staff speaking Spanish, Russian, French and Mandarin, the agency provides consumers access to Language Line Solutions, a phone translation service with interpreters in over 240 languages.
CDChoices’ Workforce Recruitment Platform is also employed to simplify a consumer’s search for a caregiver who speaks their language, understands their culture and can best meet their specific home care needs. The innovative Platform is also used by CDChoices to recruit people interested in becoming personal assistants, including caregivers who speak languages in addition to English. Since 2021, for example, 574 potential caregivers who made an account on the portal have indicated they speak Spanish.
With a critical New York shortage of more than one million home care workers, this caregiver recruitment element of the Workforce Recruitment Platform serves a critically important purpose.
“Our services allow people to remain in their homes, cared for by someone they are comfortable with and best equipped to help them fulfil their home care needs,” Graber added. “That is generally someone who can speak their language and is familiar with their cultural traditions.”
To learn more about CDChoices, please visit cdchoices.org or view their Spanish language brochure.
