Tradition Meets Care: Elder Care in the Hispanic Community

Caring for aging loved ones is more than just a responsibility in Hispanic culture—it’s a way of honoring deep traditions, giving love, and respecting elders. Across the generations, these cultural values play a major role in how families support their elders.

For older family members, these traditions can bring comfort, connection, and a sense of belonging. For caregivers, these traditions can offer strength and community; however, they can also come with the challenge of navigating high expectations.

Elder Care Traditions in Hispanic Communities

While not every household may observe these traditions, many are still impacted by:

Familismo 

At the heart of many Hispanic households is familismo—a deep sense of family loyalty and connection.

For the elderly in our community, this often means navigating old age with support. Family members such as children, grandchildren, cousins – immediate, second and third cousins as well aunts and uncles are there to support. Additionally, even close friends who are considered “like family” — will typically rally in support.

What it means for caregivers:

Familismo can be a beautiful thing—a shared sense of purpose and a built-in support system so care doesn’t fall onto one person. Unfortunately, it can be complicated with many family dynamics coming into play. For instance, different family members may have their own ideas about what’s best, the daily workload often ends up on just a few shoulders, and caregivers can feel caught in the middle trying to keep everyone happy.

Navigating familismo:

Clear communication helps prevent familismo from becoming a burden. Regular check-ins through group texts, quick calls, or family meetings can help ensure everyone knows their role. Additionally, it can help ensure that the elder’s wishes are continued to be respected and that there’s no confusion regarding finances or medical care.

When families stay connected and share the load, familismo becomes a true gift, offering caregivers breaks, emotional support, and a stronger sense of connection instead of isolation.

Multi-Generational Households

Home is more than just a place to live—it’s often a gathering space where multiple generations come together.

For aging loved ones being a part of daily family life—hearing laughter, sharing meals, and staying close to the people they love—can feel like a true gift. Even more notably, it reduces loneliness, increases independence, and makes them feel like they still play an important role in the household.

What it means for caregivers:

In some ways, this can make caregiving easier. Being nearby can provide a sense of relief and support for a caregiver as you are more likely to be able to support them when and as needed.

However, it can also bring challenges like blurred lines between family time and caregiving, clashing routines in a busy household and clashing opinions on how care “should” be done.

Making multigenerational living work:

Keeping a shared household running smoothly takes teamwork. Dividing up care, chores, and meals so no one feels overwhelmed, creating personal spaces for quiet time, and taking turns with caregiving all help keep the peace.

Celebrating time together—through shared meals or family rituals—and staying flexible when routines shift can turn a busy house into a connected home for everyone.

Gender Roles in Caregiving

More often than not, caregiving duties and roles often fall on the women in the family, whether it be the daughter(s), daughters-in-law(s), or granddaughter(s), for example. Unfortunately, this reigns true within the Hispanic community as the concepts of marianismo and machismo hold significance in many Hispanic households. The idea of marianismo — seeing Hispanic women as strong, selfless and devoted to family — often adds to the expectation that women will naturally take on the role of primary caregiver. In comparison, the idea of machismo – seeing Hispanic men as the primary breadwinners and leaders of the family – grants the liberty for the men to decide their roles and duties within the family/household as well as implement duties and roles on others.

What it means for caregivers:

Balancing caregiving with everything else such as work, school, or even just personal time, can feel like a juggling act. Consequently, when family expects you to handle it all, it’s easy to feel stretched thin or like your own needs must come last.

For example, cutting back work hours or stepping away from your career can make it harder to move forward professionally and save for retirement.

Finding balance:

No caregiver should have to choose between caring for a loved one and taking care of their own goals. Tapping into community resources such as caregiver support programs and even asking about flexible work options can make a huge difference.

Asking for and receiving help isn’t a sign of failure as it will reduce your chances of  caregiver burden drastically. It will allow you to care for your family while simultaneously caring for yourself.

Use of Traditional Remedies

For some, traditional and natural remedies are still an important part of aging and combatting illness. It is common for modern medicine to be rejected or sought as a “last resort”.

What it means for caregivers:

Honoring this can provide great comfort and even help your loved one feel more in control of their health and connected to their cultural heritage. Yet, you may find yourself caught between family expectations to use traditional practices and doctors' recommendations, which can lead to stress or even disagreements within the family.

Finding balance:

It's possible to respect cultural traditions while still keeping your loved one safe and healthy. Open conversations with healthcare providers can help find ways to incorporate remedies safely, so the elder feels supported without compromising their care. This approach keeps everyone on the same page and reduces tension between tradition and modern medicine.

Reluctance Toward Nursing Homes

In many cases, placing an elder in a nursing home or another long-term facility is seen as a last resort. Aging in place is viewed as a sign of respect and love, while moving them into a facility can feel like “abandoning” family—even when it’s the safest or most practical option.

What it means for caregivers:

While keeping a loved one at home can be rewarding, it can also be demanding—physically, emotionally, and financially. Caregivers may feel pressure to “make it work” even when they’re overwhelmed, because of cultural expectations or guilt around considering outside care. When care needs become too great, this can also reduce the quality of care a loved one receives.

Navigating placing a loved one in a nursing home:

Caring at home doesn’t have to mean doing it all alone. If you want to honor your loved one's wishes, you could explore in-home care services or home health aids for support. This balance can help you honor their wishes without sacrificing your own well-being.

If it is no longer safe for your loved one to remain at home, consider connecting with caregiver services for support on navigating the difficult conversation, transition and possible guilt.

Where Hispanic Tradition Meets Care

Caring for an aging loved one in the Hispanic community is about more than just meeting daily needs—it’s honoring the bonds that make family life rich. It can bring comfort, purpose, and support to everyone involved in care. Unfortunately, there's also the unseen challenge of managing expectations.

Finding balance means embracing these traditions while making sure caregivers have the tools, help, and space they need to thrive.