Promoting LatinX Generativity: Cultural Humility and Transformative Complicity Through Geriatric Teams

Abstract

This article highlights social work, critical thinking, and an ethic of care in geriatric teamwork to promote generativity and the well-being of LatinX elderly. We offer the tripartite paradigm of cultural humility, transformative complicity, and empowerment to reduce power imbalances between service providers, elderly persons, and their communities. A force field analysis considers the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPAC) and Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) to understand the restraining and driving forces affecting the institutionalization of inter/transdisciplinary teams. Effective evidence-based models that humanize geriatric services are offered to counter the current biomedical emphasis of Medicare/Medicaid policies and less-than-responsive geriatric institutional and educational systems. We highlight Bloom and Farragher’s Sanctuary Model of compassionate and democratic practices to address the negative effects of moral entrepreneurship and ageism. The case of Florence, an LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and questioning) grandparent with multiple health issues, is analyzed from biomedical, person in the environment, and a strength-based perspective.