[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOEFK CALL NEWS ON ARIZONA LEGISLATIVE UPDATE LOOKS AT REACTION FROM STATE LAWMAKERS TO THE LIFTING OF MASK MANDATES AT THE CAPITOL.

KROB ON CRONKITE NEWS, THE PAYROLL PROTECTION PROGRAM IS STILL ON THE TABLE AS BUSINESSES CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, THE POP CULTURE LEGACY OF THE LATE MEXICAN-AMERICAN SINGER SELENA.

ALL OF THIS AND MORE AHEAD IN THE NEXT HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

ARIZONA'S COVID-19 VACCINE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO GROW, WITH 17% NOW FULLY VACCINATED.

THOSE NUMBERS ARE BOTH RIGHT AT THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, BUT JOSH LABAER, THE DIRECTOR OF ASU'S BIO-DESIGN INSTITUTE SAYS THAT NOW IS THE TIME TO BE BETTER THAN AVERAGE.

>> WE'RE KIND OF IN THIS RACE RIGHT NOW BETWEEN THE DEVELOPED DOMINANCE OF THESE MUCH MORE INFECTIOUS VARIANTS SPREADING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, AND GETTING PEOPLE VACCINATED, AND AT THE MOMENT I'M A LITTLE WORRY THAT THE SPREAD MAY OUTPACE OUR ABILITY TO GET VACCINES IN ARMS.

>> THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING VACCINATED WAS EMPHASIZED TODAY AT THE WHITE HOUSE BRIEFING.

>> THE BOTTOM LINE MESSAGE IS WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO GET VACCINATED.

BECAUSE VACCINATION IS NOT ONLY GOING TO PROTECT U.S. AGAINST THE WILD TYPE, BUT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO ALSO PROTECT AGAINST A RANGE OF VARIANTS, SO WHEN VACCINATIONS BECOME AVAILABLE, GET VACCINATED.

>> AND VACCINATIONS COULD SOON BECOME AVAILABLE FOR KIDS UNDER THINK AGE OF 16.

PFIZER REPORTED ITS VACCINE IS 100% EFFECTIVE AND WELL TOLERATED IN KIDS AGE 12 TO 15.

THERE WERE NO CASES OF CATCHING COVID AMONG THE 1,000 PARTICIPANTS IN THE STUDY.

CLINICAL TESTS FOR EVEN YOUNGER CHILDREN ARE ONGOING.

>>> ONE MORE COVID NOTE, THE CDC REPORTED THAT COVID-19 WAS THE THIRD LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE U.S. LAST YEAR, ONLY HEART DISEASE AND CANCER TOOK MORE LIVES.

THOUGH OVERALL DEATH RATE JUMPED 16% FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

>>> THE STATE SENATE ANNOUNCED IT SELECTED FOUR FIRMS TO AUDIT THE ELECTION RESULTS.

THEY EXPECT TO HAVE THE RESULTS WITHIN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS.

PRESIDENT BIDEN WON MARICOPA COUNTY, BUT SENATE REPUBLICANS SAY THE AUDIT IS NEEDED TO, QUOTE, VALIDATE EVERY AREA OF THE VOTING PROCESS.

>>> AND DAY THREE OF THE DEREK CHAUVIN MURDER TRIAL INCLUDED TESTIMONY FROM THE STORE CLERK WHO CONFRONTED GEORGE FLOYD OVER A COUNTERFEIT $20 BILL.

>> WE SAW YOU STANDING THERE WITH YOUR HANDS ON YOUR HEAD FOR A WHILE, CORRECT.

>> CORRECT.

>> WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND?

>> DISBELIEF, AND GUILT.

>> WHY GUILT?

>> IF I WOULD HAVE JUST NOT TAKEN THE BILL, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.

>>> A NUMBER OF WITNESSES IN THE TRIAL HAVE CRIED AT SOME POINT IN THEIR TESTIMONY AS THEY DESCRIBE WHAT THEY SAW AND THEIR SENSE OF HELPLESSNESS IN TRYING TO INTERVENE.

>>> TIME NOW FOR OUR LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.

THIS WEEK IT'S THE DEMOCRATS TURN.

WE ASKED STATE SENATOR MARTIN QUEZADA AND REPRESENTATIVE DOMINGO DEGRAZIA ABOUT NEW RULES ABOUT MASKS AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

SENATOR WE'LL START WITH YOU.

NO MORE MASK REQUIREMENT AT THE CAPITOL FOR LAWMAKERS.

WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT, AND WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> SENATE PRESIDENT FANN DECIDED TO CHANGE THE RULE TO MAKE MASK WEARING RECOMMENDED RATHER THAN MANDATORY.

I THINK IT'S A BAD MOVE MOVING FORWARD.

THERE IS A LOT OF PROTESTS ABOUT THESE MASKS.

THE REPUBLICAN MEMBERS SIMPLY DON'T WANT TO WEAR THEM.

SO WHAT WE HAVE SEEN NOW IS THAT THE MEMBERS ARE JUST ABSOLUTELY REFUSING TO WEAR THEM, SO IT HAS CREATED AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE'RE ALL INTERACTING WITH EACH OTHER ON THE SENATE FLOOR WITH AND WITHOUT MASKS.

>> SENATOR WHAT ARE YOU SEEING?

>> YESTERDAY OUR SPEAKER MR. BOWER SENT OUT THE NOTICE OF THE CHANGES IN THE POLICIES, AND IT APPEARS THAT WEARING A MASK IS GOING TO BE RECOMMENDED BUT NOT ENFORCED.

BUT THEN EVER-CHANGING SCENARIO, A LOT OF THE BARRIERS ARE COMING DOWN.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW THE COMMITTEE ROOMS ARE GOING TO LOOK, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY CHANGING QUICKLY.

>> REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING AMERICA IS ALL ABOUT ALLOWING PEOPLE TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR THEMSELVES.

DO THEY HAVE A POINT WHEN THE GOVERNOR HAS ALREADY LIFTED MITIGATION EFFORTS AROUND THE STATE?

>> WELL, THEY CERTAINLY HAVE A POINT, BUT I THINK THERE IS A LOT AT STAKE BEHIND THAT.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR YOURSELF, YOU SHOULD CONSIDER THE IMPACT THOSE DECISIONS WILL HAVE ON THOSE AROUND YOU, AND BY NOT WEARING MASKS HERE, THEY ARE STILL PUTTING NOT ONLY EACH OTHER IN DANGER, BUT OUR STAFF, OUR PAGES, OUR MAINTENANCE CREW, PUTTING THEM IN DANGER TOO, AND WE ALL GO BACK HOME TO FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES WHERE WE MAY NOT HAVE COMPLETELY HEALTHY PEOPLE, SO THAT CREATED A BIG DANGER FOR EVERYBODY.

>> REPRESENTATIVE, AS FAR AS THE GOVERNOR LIFTING THOSE MITIGATION EFFORTS, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS THERE?

BECAUSE THE CITY IS TUCSON SAYS WE'RE KEEPING EVERYTHING IN PLACE REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAYS.

>> YEAH.

WE SHOULD MAKE DECISIONS -- BASED ON THE SCIENCE.

BUT WE ALSO LIVE IN A COMMUNITY AND SOCIETY, WHERE WE HAVE TO DEPEND ON ONE ANOTHER TO MAKE SAFE DECISIONS.

THAT'S PART OF THE BENEFIT OF BEING IN A COMMUNITY.

SO I THINK IT WAS PREMATURE TO LIFT THE MASK MANDATES.

>> AND YET, SENATOR, THE GOV FLOOR IS CONFIDENT THAT ARIZONA BUSINESSES AND CITIZENS WILL CONTINUE TO PRACTICE THE FUNDAMENTALS AND ACT RESPONSIBLY.

REACTION?

>> YEAH, IF THAT WERE THE CASE, THEN WHY NOT LEAVE THE MANDATES IN PLACE.

HE IS BASICALLY OPENING THE DOOR FOR YOU TO IGNORE THE SOUND ADVISE FROM MEDICAL OFFICIALS, AND DO WHAT YOU FEEL IS BEST, AND THAT IS GOING TO PUT CUSTOMERS AND WORKERS AT RISK.

>> AND YET REPRESENTATIVE, WE HAVE TEN WEEKS OR MORE OF DECLINING CASES.

HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE AS LOW AS THEY HAVE BEEN SINCE LATE DECEMBER, EARLY OCTOBER.

AGAIN, IS THERE AN ARGUMENT THAT IT IS TIME TO EASE UP ON SOME OF THESE RESTRICTIONS?

>> I THINK FOLKS CAN BRING THAT ARGUMENT, BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE OUR DECISION BASED ON THE DATA.

AND WE HAVE SEEN OTHER COUNTRIES AND OTHER STATES IN THE U.S. THAT HAVE RISING COVID CASES, SIMPLY BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF EXPOSURE, AND THE TIME THAT FOLKS SPEND IN DOORS, SO THERE ARE A LOT OF COUNTERVAILING ARGUMENTS THAT CAN AND NEED TO BE MADE, AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT LEAVING IT UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL TO MAKE THE BEST CHOICE.

>> THERE IS A COVID LAWSUIT PROTECTION.

YOU HAVE TO SHOW GROSS NEGLIGENCE AND WILLFUL MISCONDUCT FOR THESE SUITS TO HAVE MER -- MERIT.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> YEAH, THIS WILL APPLY FOR ALMOST ANY BUSINESS FOR ANY HARM THEY CAUSE TO WORKERS AND CUSTOMERS.

I THINK, AGAIN, JUST LIKE LIFTING THE COVID RESTRICTIONS, THIS IS A BAD MOVE, AND IT'S TOO EARLY TO BE DOING THIS.

THIS BILL WILL PROTECT THOSE BAD ACTORS MORE THAN THOSE GOOD ACTORS.

>> AND YET REPRESENTATIVE REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING THE FOCUS ARE ON HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL CARE FACILITIES DUE TO STAFFING.

AGAIN, IS THERE A NEED FOR THAT RIGHT NOW?

>> WELL, THE -- THE ARGUMENT THAT THIS BILL IS NECESSARY IS WITHOUT -- WITHOUT FOUNDATION AND WITHOUT MERIT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BILL ITSELF.

THERE ARE KEY PROVISIONS THAT ARE INCREDIBLY DISTURBING.

FIRST OF ALL THE NEGLIGENCE THAT WOULD CAPTURE A BUSINESS OWNER UNDER THE BILL IS THE WORST STANDARD FOR BEHAVIOR, AND ONLY THOSE FOLKS WOULD BE CAPTURED.

AND IF YOU BRING A SUIT TO PROVE IT, THE BILL PROPORTS TO RAISE THE LEVEL THAT IS NEEDED UP TO CLEAR AND CONVINCING, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST STANDARD OF PROOF THAT WE HAVE.

AND THERE IS A REASONABLE PROVISION CONTAINED IN THE BILL.

AND THE ARIZONA HOUSE PASSED OUT HB 2770 JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, WHICH PURPORTED LEAVING UP TO BUSINESS OWNERS ON WHEN TO HAVE MASK REQUIREMENTS OR NOT.

SO THE INTENT IS NOT TO FOLLOW GUIDELINES OR BE SAFE, BUT JUST PUT IN AN ARBITRARY STANDARD.

>> LAST QUESTION, SENATOR, REAL QUICKLY, DO YOU THINK THIS VIOLATES THE CONSTITUTION?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT SAYS ARIZONA'S RIGHT OF ACTION TO RECOVER DAMAGE FROM INJURIES COULD NEVER BE REPEALED.

THIS BILL DOES EXACTLY THAT FOR THOSE PEOPLE INJURED IN THIS SITUATION.

>> THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR TIME ON OUR LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> UP NEXT, HOW THE PANDEMIC HIT WOMEN OF COLOR HARDER THAN OTHERS.

>>> THE COVID PANDEMIC HAS DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED MINORITIES IN MANY WAYS, WITH WOMEN OF COLOR BEING HIT ESPECIALLY HARD.

WE LEARNED MORE FROM DR. VELMA TRAYHAM, FOUNDER OF THE MILLIONAIRE MASTERMIND ACADEMY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THIS COVID-19 RECESSION, SUCH AS IT IS AND WAS, IT HAS BEEN CALLED BY SOME A SHE SESSION.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THAT.

THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN THAT HAS IMPACTED WOMEN ESPECIALLY MINORITY WOMEN, HAS REALLY PLAYED A HUGE ROLE AND PART IN WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

>> WHY DO YOU THINK MORE WOMEN THAN MEN LOST THEIR JOBS DURING THE PANDEMIC?

>> THAT'S -- THAT'S A VERY INTERESTING QUESTION TO SAY THE LEAST.

WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT FROM -- FROM A STANDPOINT OF INEQUALITY AND WOMEN ACTUALLY GETTING A FAIR OPPORTUNITY WHEN IT COMES TO BEING ABLE TO -- TO -- TO CLIMB THE LADDER, BEING ABLE TO REALLY SHOW THEIR UNIQUENESS, AND TO -- TO REALLY, REALLY EMBRACE THE -- THE STRENGTH THAT THEY POSSESS, I THINK A LOT OF TIMES IS JUST -- IT'S -- IT'S SOMETHING THAT SYSTEMICALLY, WE NEED TO FIX, AND OBVIOUSLY NOW, THINGS ARE -- I BELIEVE THINGS ARE GETTING -- ARE GETTING BETTER, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED.

IN DECEMBER I WAS REALLY, REALLY HEART BROKEN TO SEE THAT 140,000 JOBS WERE LOST, AND 100% OF THEM WERE WOMAN.

FROM FEBRUARY TO MAY, 11.5 MILLION WOMEN LOST THEIR JOBS, COMPARED WITH 9 MILLION MEN, UNDERLINING HOW WOMEN ARE MORE VULNERABLE TO CERTAIN LOSSES OF INCOME.

>> MORE VULNERABLE BECAUSE, WHAT, INDUSTRIES THAT WERE HIT THE HARDEST TEND TO BE FEMALE DOMINATED?

>> THAT'S AS WELL -- THAT'S DEFINITELY ONE OF THEM.

BUT IN ALL OF THE INDUSTRIES, THEY HAVE LOST A LOT OF WOMEN IN THE WORK SPACE, AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT EVEN BUSINESS OWNERSHIP, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, THEY ARE WOMAN.

THEY HAVE HAD TO CLOSE THEIR DOORS, BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, FUNDING OR ACCESS TO, YOU KNOW, RESOURCES.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PPP, COMPANIES THAT DIDN'T NEED THE MONEY, ACTUALLY GOT ACCESS TO THE MONEY BEFORE THE PEOPLE THAT NEEDED IT, SO THERE WAS A FEW DETERMINING FACTORS HERE WITH -- WITH WHY SO MANY WOMEN LOST -- LOST JOBS AND BUSINESSES HAD TO CLOSE DOWN.

>> THE STIMULUS PACKAGE LOOKS LIKE IT IS TARGETING CERTAIN INDUSTRIES, HOSPITALITY, AND THESE SORTS OF THINGS THAT TEND TO BE HEAVY ON FEMALES, BUT THAT'S WHERE SO MUCH OF THIS JOB LOSS OCCURRED.

AND MANY OF THESE FOLKS TEND TO BE UNDERPAIS, AND THERE IS LESS OF A CUSHION TO FALL BACK ON.

IS THIS GOING TO HELP GET WOMEN BACK ON TRACK?

>> I BELIEVE IT WILL.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE -- THE NUMBERS OF WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES THAT WERE SOLE PROPRIETORS, AND NOT HAVING THE PROPER INFRASTRUCTURE, I BELIEVE THE STIMULUS WILL HELP THE ECONOMY COME BACK TOGETHER.

SMALL BUSINESSES ARE -- ARE REALLY THE -- THE -- THE LIFE OF OUR ECONOMY.

THEY PROVIDE JOB OPPORTUNITIES.

NEW PRODUCTS.

NEW INVENTIONS.

YOU KNOW, THEY EMPLOY, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE, YOU KNOW?

SO I THINK THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, AND I THINK THAT IT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO -- GOING TO HELP.

BECAUSE SOME OF THE BUSINESSES THAT HAD TO CLOSE, NOW THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REOPEN.

THESE BUSINESSES, A LOT OF THEM ARE SOLVING REALLY, REALLY BIG PROBLEMS IN THE COMMUNITIES, WHETHER IT BE A SERVICE AND/OR A PRODUCT, SO I THINK IT WILL HELP IN TERMS OF THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY.

>> AND LAST QUESTION, I WANT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT WOMEN OF COLOR SEEM TO BE DISPROPORTIONATELY HIT HERE, CORRECT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WOMEN OF COLOR, AND THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING ISSUE THAT I BELIEVE CHANGE IS ALSO HAPPENING HERE, BUT WE -- THERE HAS BEEN LACK OF ACCESS, YOU KNOW?

LACK OF ACCESS TO RESOURCES, ACCESS TO CAPITAL, ACCESS TO INFORMATION, SO, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE DEFINITELY BEEN -- THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A VERY LONG TIME, BUT I BELIEVE THAT, AGAIN, THAT IS CHANGING.

WOMEN ARE CLIMBING THE -- THE -- THEY ARE CLIMBING RIGHT NOW.

YOU LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, KAMALA HARRIS, WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THE WOMEN THAT ARE -- REALLY, REALLY BREAKING DOWN THE BARRIERS AND THE WALLS IN -- IN COMING TO THE FOREFRONT OF -- OF SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS THAT -- THAT HAVE BEEN EXISTING FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME.

>> ALL RIGHT.

DR. VELMA TRAYHAM, FOUNDER OF THE MILLIONAIRE MASTERMIND ACADEMY, DOCTOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

♪ >>> THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION RELEASED A REPORT THAT SHOWED ARIZONA LEADING THE NATION IN DEMENTIA DEATHS.

WE LEARNED MORE FROM DR. MARISA MENCHOLA OF THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE, DOCTOR.

THIS FACTS AND FIGURES REPORT, WHAT ARE THE FACTS, WHAT ARE THE FIGURES?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HIGHLIGHTING THIS ISSUE.

THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PUBLIC HEALTH AND ECONOMIC CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE FEELING OVER THE NEXT FEW DECADES.

SO WHAT WE KNOW AT THIS POINT IS THAT WE HAVE OVER 6 MILLION ADULTS 65 AND OLDER LIVING WITH ALZHEIMER'S DEMENTIA IN THE U.S., BUT BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE POPULATION IS RAPIDLY AGING, WE EXPECT THE NUMBER TO BE OVER 7 MILLION BY 2025, AND WE WILL BE OVER 12.5 MILLION BY 2050, AND OUR STATE, ARIZONA, HAS THE FASTEST GROWTH RATE FOR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE IN THE NATION.

SO ARIZONA IS EXPECTED TO -- OVER 33% INCREASE IN OLDER ADULTS LIVING WITH ALZHEIMER'S DEMENTIA BETWEEN 2023 AND 25, WE'RE EXPECTED TO GO FROM 150,000 TO RIGHT AROUND 200,000, AND THIS IS OF COURSE A VERY SUBSTANTIAL STRAIN ON FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES AND ON OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS.

>> DO WE KNOW WHY WE LEAD THE NATION IN THIS CATEGORY IN >> WE HAVE A RAPIDLY AGING POPULATION HERE IN ARIZONA.

WE ARE A RETIREMENT DESTINATION.

BUT ALSO WE HAVE A PERFECT STORM OF A RAPIDLY AGING POPULATION, AND AN INCREASINGLY DIVERSION POPULATION.

AND CERTAIN MINORITY POPULATIONS, SUCH AS HISPANICS HAVE ALZHEIMER'S AT A MUCH HIGHER RATE THAN WHITE AMERICANS.

>> AND I KNOW -- IN TERMS OF THE REPORT, THIS SPECIAL REPORT IN HERE IS RACE, ETHNICITY AND ALZHEIMER'S IN AMERICA.

TALK MORE ABOUT WHAT WAS FOUND THERE, AND EXAMPLES OF DISPARITIES IN HEALTHCARE AND HOW THAT FACTORS IN.

>> YES, FOR THIS REPORT THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION COMMISSIONED A LARGE SURVEY OF BLACK, HISPANIC, NATIVE, AND ASIAN-AMERICAN ADULTS IN THE U.S., INCLUDING DEMENTIA CAREGIVERS.

AND SURPRISINGLY WHAT THEY FOUND WAS PERSISTENT DISPARITIES ACROSS THE SPECTRUM FOR ADULTS WITH ETHNIC RACIAL MINORITIES.

SO SIGNIFICANT MEMORY LOSS, IS A NORMAL PART OF AGING, THEY ARE LESS LIKELY TO SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IF THEY THEMSELVES [ INAUDIBLE ] WITH THE LOSS.

WE KNOW, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THAT SOME RACIAL MINORITIES HAVE HIGHER PREVALENCE.

IN FACT, BLACK ADULTS ARE TWICE AS LIKELY OF DEVELOPING ALZHEIMER'S OR ANOTHER FORM OF DEMENTIA, HISPANICS 45% MORE LIKELY.

MINORITY CAREGIVERS ARE LESS LIKELY TO ACCESS SERVICES FOR EXAMPLE.

MINORITY PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA ARE MORE LIKELY TO GO UNDIAGNOSED, AND UNFORTUNATELY A LOT OF THESE DISPARITIES ARE RELATED TO SOME OF THE WORST WORRISOME FINDINGS OF THE SURVEY, WHICH IS A VERY HIGH PERCENTAGE OF ETHNIC MINORITIES REPORT DISPARITY IN THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

>> DISCRIMINATION HOW?

>> SO THEY REPORT EXPERIENCES RELATED TO -- FOR EXAMPLE, BEING OFFERED [ INAUDIBLE ] SERVICES.

EVERYTHING FROM SOME TYPES OF SURGERIES TO PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS, AND ALSO THINGS LIKE [ INAUDIBLE ] BEING TALKED DOWN OR DISRESPECTED AND VERY COMMONLY BEING STEREO TYPED.

>> LAST QUESTION, HOW DO WE ADDRESS THE DISPARITIES AND THESE NUMBERS OF GROWING ALZHEIMER'S AND DEMENTIA PATIENTS?

>> YES, FIRST WE DESPERATELY NEED TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AGING DEMENTIA SPECIALISTS IN HEALTHCARE, IN PARTICULARLY IN PRIMARY CARE.

LAST YEAR, A REPORT FOUND THAT WE WOULD NEED TO TRIPLE THE NUMBER OF PHYSICIANS BY 2050 IN ORDER TO PROPERLY CARE FOR AGING ADULTS.

AND WE NEED MORE NURSES AND SOCIAL WORKERS AS WELL.

SECOND, WE URGENTLY NEED TO INCREASE THE REPRESENTATION OF RACIAL MINORITIES IN RESEARCH.

MINORITIES ARE SEVERELY UNDERRESEARCHED IN CLINICAL TRIALS AND [ INAUDIBLE ] FOR EXAMPLE.

AND FINALLY, WE NEED TO CONTINUE ADVOCATING FOR COME PRO -- COMPREHENSIVE CARE INVOLVING SUPPORT AS WELL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪ >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, IT'S CAESAR CHAVEZ DAY, CRONKITE NEWS SPEAKS WE THE GRAND SON OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER.

AND ON AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, THE POP CULTURE LEGACY OF THE LATE MEXICAN-AMERICAN SINGER SELENA.

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