Advocacy in action: SCAN Foundation fights healthcare disparities

July 20, 2025

The Senior Care Action Network (SCAN) Foundation hosted a dinner event at Scott's Seafood and Grill on July 10, 2025, featuring keynote speakers and panelists who addressed healthcare disparities affecting marginalized communities, particularly elderly Black individuals. Dr. Stacey Gambrell Hunt emphasized the critical importance of self-advocacy in medical settings, highlighting how Black Americans make up 13% of the population but only 6% of physicians, leading to underrepresentation and inadequate healthcare. The event brought together diverse attendees to learn about SCAN's mission to amplify marginalized voices, fund elder healthcare programs, support equity-centered policies, and strengthen health and aging infrastructure.

Who is affected

Elderly Black individuals and other senior citizens from marginalized communities
Black patients who receive inadequate care or are overlooked by the healthcare system
Minority groups with limited representation in healthcare settings
Non-English speaking patients (like Donna Hillard's Korean mother)
Communities facing race and economic discrimination

What action is being taken

The SCAN Foundation is funding elder healthcare programs
SCAN is supporting equity-centered healthcare policies
The organization is elevating senior citizens' stories
SCAN is advocating for vulnerable elderly community members who cannot easily speak up for themselves
The foundation is hosting educational events (like the July 10 dinner) to raise awareness about healthcare disparities

Why it matters

Black people make up 13% of the US population but only 6% of physicians, creating significant underrepresentation
The Black population tends to die prematurely due to inadequate care and being overlooked by the healthcare system
Health disparities are especially pronounced in the elderly Black community
Language barriers and cultural misunderstandings (like providing Spanish translators for Korean speakers) demonstrate the severe gaps in representation
The event demonstrated community commitment to addressing these issues and supporting programs like SCAN

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: San Francisco Bay View National Black Newspaper