Engaging black older adults and caregivers in urban communities in health research.

The under-representation of the Black population in research may lead to poor health outcomes for them and a decreased capacity to generalize results to Black populations. This article describes ways in which sensitivity to cultural distinctions of Black older adults and their current or future caregivers can enhance their recruitment and retention in research. Cultural mores play an important role in the shaping of one's perceptions, definitions, responses to disease, and participation in health regimens. Similarly, one's cultural orientation plays a role in how a person is effectively recruited and retained in resear Wenger's translation process model uses cultural meaning to inform research decisions. This model was used in a recent study of Black older adults and their caregivers and will be described in this article. Effectively engaging Black individuals in health research is essential for improving their health.