The power of family-centered care for chronic illness in African Americans

A child places their hand over an adult's hand who clutches a cane.

By Kaitlyn Bowie

Master of Public Health Student, Health Behavior & Health Equity

March 4, 2025

African Americans in the US face disproportionately high rates of chronic illnesses compared to other racial and ethnic groups. They are twice as likely to develop diabetes and have double the risk of dying from sudden cardiac arrest compared to their white counterparts. These health disparities extend into healthcare settings, where many African Americans encounter barriers to high-quality care. 

Unfortunately, experiences of bias or inadequate treatment are common, with 40% of Black Americans reporting that they must advocate for themselves to receive proper care. These challenges undermine patient trust, lead to poorer health outcomes, and unjustly put the onus onto the patient to advocate for the fair and quality healthcare that everyone deserves.

This leads to the important question: What approaches can be used to better support African Americans within our healthcare system and reach better health outcomes? Family-centered care is one method that has proven to be effective.

What is family-centered care?

Family-centered care is built on a partnership model that emphasizes collaboration between families and healthcare providers for informed decision-making. In this context, “family” can be defined by the patient and may include direct family members or any other person who is important to their life and health. Such care models focus on integrating the patient's life experiences and personal context, ensuring that care is holistic and effective. It has been proven to improve patient health outcomes by facilitating better communication and involvement with family members who are integral to decision making, adherence to treatment, and emotional support. In addition to helping to facilitate better health outcomes and patient satisfaction, family-centered care also reduces hospitalizations and medical errors, leads to lower healthcare costs, and improves staff satisfaction.

Family-centered care draws on the Family Systems Theory, which views families as interconnected units, suggesting that the well-being of one member affects the entire family. For example, interconnectedness is evident in how chronic illness impacts not just the patient but the whole family. Family members often take on caregiving roles, and emotional burdens are not isolated to one person — they are often shared across multiple members of the family.

Special importance in communities of color

While family-centered care is beneficial across many groups, it is especially valuable within communities of color when it comes to preventing and managing chronic diseases. Values like collectivism and interdependence are integral to care in African American communities, particularly for chronic disease management. Today, family-centered care approaches recognize that involving family in care can enhance communication, support, and adherence to treatment plans. By addressing the needs of the entire family, these approaches strengthen coping mechanisms beyond just the patient.

Advocating for family-centered care in public health and medicine

For patients with chronic conditions, especially African Americans, family-centered care should be a standard practice. Frequent interactions with the healthcare system require patients to navigate emotional and communication challenges that can be mitigated by including family members in the care plan. This approach can also strengthen the relationship between patients, providers, and family-members, leading to long-term improvements in community trust and health outcomes.

Within public health and healthcare settings, professionals should advocate for family-centered care as a norm in healthcare delivery. This will require a multi-faceted approach including initiatives such as:

  • Integrating family-centered care into healthcare standards by establishing national healthcare guidelines that prioritize family involvement in chronic disease management.
  • Developing and implementing healthcare professional training focused on communication, understanding family diversity, and engaging caregivers in care plans.
  • Expanding insurance coverage to include services like caregiver education, care coordination, and family counseling.

Adopting family-centered care is essential for addressing the health disparities faced by African American communities, as it fosters inclusive and empathetic healthcare by prioritizing collaboration between patients, their families, and providers. By integrating this model, we can enhance patient satisfaction, improve health outcomes, and build trust, ultimately ensuring equitable healthcare for all.

About the Author

Erica JansenKaitlyn Bowie is a second-year Master of Public Health student in Health Behavior & Health Equity at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. She is passionate about community health and preventive care in underserved communities of color. She plans to attend medical school with the goal of becoming a family physician, advocating for holistic, patient-centered care.

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