scholarly journals Geriatric Assessment in Multicultural Immigrant Populations

Geriatrics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine T. Ward ◽  
Mailee Hess ◽  
Shirley Wu

While the traditional comprehensive geriatric assessment provides valuable information essential to caring for older adults, it often falls short in multicultural immigrant populations. The number of foreign-born older adults is growing, and in some regions of the United States of America (U.S.), they encompass a significant portion of the older adult population. To ensure we are caring for this culturally diverse population adequately, we need to develop a more culturally competent comprehensive geriatric assessment. In this review, we explore ways in which to do this, address areas unique to multicultural immigrant populations, and identify limitations of the current assessment tools when applied to these populations. In order to be more culturally sensitive, we should incorporate the concepts of ethnogeriatrics into a comprehensive geriatric assessment, by addressing topics like healthcare disparities, language barriers, health literacy, acculturation level, and culturally defined beliefs. Additionally, we must be sensitive to the limitations of our current assessment tools and consider how we can expand our assessment toolkit to address these limitations. We discuss the limitations in cognitive screening tests, delirium assessments, functional and mental health assessments, advance care planning, and elder abuse.

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 3366
Author(s):  
Janusz Blasiak ◽  
Jan Chojnacki ◽  
Elzbieta Pawlowska ◽  
Joanna Szczepanska ◽  
Cezary Chojnacki

The continuous increase in life expectancy results in a steady increase of cancer risk, which consequently increases the population of older adults with cancer. Older adults have their age-related nutritional needs and often suffer from comorbidities that may affect cancer therapy. They frequently are malnourished and present advanced-stage cancer. Therefore, this group of patients requires a special multidisciplinary approach to optimize their therapy and increase quality of life impaired by aging, cancer, and the side effects of therapy. Evaluation strategies, taking advantage of comprehensive geriatric assessment tools, including the comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA), can help individualize treatment. As epigenetics, an emerging element of the regulation of gene expression, is involved in both aging and cancer and the epigenetic profile can be modulated by the diet, it seems to be a candidate to assist with planning a nutritional intervention in elderly populations with cancer. In this review, we present problems associated with the diet and nutrition in the elderly undergoing active cancer therapy and provide some information on epigenetic aspects of aging and cancer transformation. Nutritional interventions modulating the epigenetic profile, including caloric restriction and basal diet with modifications (elimination diet, supplementary diet) are discussed as the ways to improve the efficacy of cancer therapy and maintain the quality of life of older adults with cancer.


2022 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 360-376
Author(s):  
Manik Chahal ◽  
Brian Thiessen ◽  
Caroline Mariano

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary malignant brain tumor in adults, and over half of patients with newly diagnosed GBM are over the age of 65. Management of glioblastoma in older patients includes maximal safe resection followed by either radiation, chemotherapy, or combined modality treatment. Despite recent advances in the treatment of older patients with GBM, survival is still only approximately 9 months compared to approximately 15 months for the general adult population, suggesting that further research is required to optimize management in the older population. The Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) has been shown to have a prognostic and predictive role in the management of older patients with other cancers, and domains of the CGA have demonstrated an association with outcomes in GBM in retrospective studies. Furthermore, the CGA and other geriatric assessment tools are now starting to be prospectively investigated in older GBM populations. This review aims to outline current treatment strategies for older patients with GBM, explore the rationale for inclusion of geriatric assessment in GBM management, and highlight recent data investigating its implementation into practice.


2006 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Brettell

Soon after 9/11 a research project to study new immigration into the Dallas Fort Worth metropolitan area got under way. In the questionnaire that was administered to 600 immigrants across five different immigrant populations (Asian Indians, Vietnamese, Mexicans, Salvadorans, and Nigerians) between 2003 and 2005 we decided to include a question about the impact of 9/11 on their lives. We asked: “How has the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 affected your position as an immigrant in the United States?” This article analyzes the responses to this question, looking at similarities and differences across different immigrant populations. It also addresses the broader issue of how 9/11 has affected both immigration policy and attitudes toward the foreign-born in the United States. 


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Cristina Alegre-Muelas ◽  
Jorge Alegre-Ayala ◽  
Elisabet Huertas-Hoyas ◽  
MªRosa Martínez-Piédrola ◽  
Jorge Pérez-Corrales ◽  
...  

The Activity Card Sort (ACS) measures the level of participation, as perceived by each person which, unlike other scales, makes it both personal and significant. However, there is a limitation to applying the ACS to Spanish older adults as it is restricted to culturally relevant activities solely in the United States. Therefore, the aim of this study was to select activity items that reflected Spanish older adults’ lifestyles in order to develop the Activity Card Sort-Spain Version (ACS-SP). Frequently, activities performed in Spain (n=103) were listed in an initial draft. The Likert scale was administrated to a large group of Spanish nationals over the age of 60 years (n=98) to establish which type of activities will be eventually included in the Spanish version. The final version was drawn up comprising 79 activities distributed between four performance areas. In addition, other activities that were not previously included by other assessment tools were considered and have been listed in this review, such as taking a nap, going out for a drink or “tapas,” or searching for a job. The gradual adaptation to ACS for Spaniards will make it possible to measure the level of an individual’s participation within a community. However, further work on psychometric properties is needed.


Author(s):  
Merle Weßel

AbstractDespite being a collection of holistic assessment tools, the comprehensive geriatric assessment primarily focuses on the social category of age during the assessment and disregards for example gender. This article critically reviews the standardized testing process of the comprehensive geriatric assessment in regard to diversity-sensitivity. I show that the focus on age as social category during the assessment process might potentially hinder positive outcomes for people with diverse backgrounds of older patients in relation to other social categories, such as race, gender or socio-economic background and their influence on the health of the patient as well as the assessment and its outcomes. I suggest that the feminist perspective of intersectionality with its multicategorical approach can enhance the diversity-sensitivity of the comprehensive geriatric assessment, and thus improve the treatment of older patients and their quality of life. By suggesting an intersectional-based approach, this article contributes to debates about justice and diversity in medical philosophy and advocates for the normative value of diversity in geriatric medicine.


2017 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
A.D. Jadczak ◽  
N. Mahajan ◽  
R. Visvanathan

Geriatric assessment tools are applicable to the general geriatric population; however, their feasibility in frail older adults is yet to be determined. The study aimed to determine the feasibility of standardised geriatric assessment tools and physical exercises in hospitalised frail older adults. Various assessment tools including the FRAIL Screen, the Charlson Comorbidity Index, the SF-36, the Trail Making Test (TMT), the Rapid Cognitive Screen, the Self Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA-SF) and the Lawton iADL as well as standard physical exercises were assessed using observational protocols. The FRAIL Screen, MNA-SF, Rapid Cognitive Screen, Lawton iADL and the physical exercises were deemed to be feasible with only minor comprehension, execution and safety issues. The TMT was not considered to be feasible and the SF-36 should be replaced by its shorter form, the SF-12. In order to ensure the validity of these findings a study with a larger sample size should be undertaken.


2019 ◽  
Vol 89 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-21
Author(s):  
Jane J. Lee ◽  
Hyun-Jun Kim ◽  
Karen Fredriksen Goldsen

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) aging research is growing around the globe. Yet, few studies have examined the interconnectedness of different populations and cultures. This study examines whether LGBT foreign-born older adults experience greater health disparities than their U.S.-born counterparts. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the National Health, Aging, and Sexuality/Gender Study: Aging with Pride from 2014, which assessed measures of health and well-being among LGBT adults aged 50 years and older ( n = 2,441). We compared sociodemographic characteristics, health-care access, health behaviors, and health outcomes between foreign-born and U.S.-born participants. Foreign-born LGBT older adults reported greater socioeconomic disadvantage and higher levels of experiencing barriers to health-care access than U.S.-born LGBT older adults. Groups did not significantly differ in health behaviors and health outcomes when controlling for sociodemographic factors. Greater understanding of the mechanisms that shape the relationship between migration and health among the LGBT population is warranted.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S829-S829
Author(s):  
Teri Kennedy

Abstract This paper presents an innovative conceptual approach to health care policy for older adults: the Age-Friendly Health Systems Integrated Interprofessional Model. In 2017, the John A. Hartford Foundation and Institute for Healthcare Improvement, in partnership with the American Hospital Association and Catholic Health Association of the United States, advanced the concept of an Age-Friendly Health System. This initiative is designed to respond to the needs of a burgeoning U.S. older adult population, expected to double from 2012 to 2050, largely due to the aging of Baby Boomers and increased life expectancy. These Baby Boomers will demand a well-coordinated, communicative health system responsive to their values and preferences. In an Age-Friendly Health System, all older adults receive the best possible care, without care-related harms, and with satisfaction of care received. Essential elements include what matters, mentation, mobility, and medications, with a focus on patient-directed, family-engaged care. While a solid framework for improving healthcare for older adults, this model is further strengthened by incorporating the essential elements of person-, family-, and community-centered approaches to care; interprofessional team-based competencies, and Quadruple Aim outcomes. This enhanced model, referred to as the Age-Friendly Health System Integrated Interprofessional Model, combines elements essential to quality healthcare within the framework of an Age-Friendly Health System. This paper will present the original Age-Friendly Health System framework, the proposed Age-Friendly Health System Integrated Interprofessional Model, then compare and contrast each model’s essential principles. Implications for adoption of this enhanced model for policy, education, and practice will be explored.


2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 509-515 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ozgur Kara ◽  
Busra Canbaz ◽  
Muhammet Cemal Kizilarslanoglu ◽  
Gunes Arik ◽  
Fatih Sumer ◽  
...  

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