title: What evidence is available on end-of-life (EOL) care and Latino elders? A literature review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Low-income and minority persons, such as Latinos, encounter substantial barriers in accessing effective end-of-life (EOL) care. This study intends to review current evidence on how to deliver EOL care to Latino elders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature search in PubMed and Ovid Web sites of articles indexed in Medline (1948-2011), Cochrane (2005-2011), Embase, and PsychInfo (1967-2011) databases. Articles were included if they contained (1) study participants' race/ethnicity, (2) adults or population older than 60 years, and (3) information related to EOL care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 64 abstracts were reviewed, and 38 articles met the inclusion criteria. After reviewing the quality of evidence, 4 themes were identified and summarized: EOL preferences, hospice, Latino culture, and caregiving.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Latino elders have traditional acculturation practices, face EOL decisions with family support, and, if educated, are receptive toward hospice and caregiver support.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatrics Medicine, Saint Louis University, St Louis, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Dulce M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Cruz-Oliver
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Talamantes
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sanchez-Reilly
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D032722:Advance Care Planning; D000368:Aged; D001293:Attitude to Death / Q000208:ethnology*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D005190:Family / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000523:psychology*; D057240:Patient Preference; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Hispanic; Latino; elder; end of life; hospice; palliative