ABSTRACT
196 Objective: To review the healthcare trends and needs of South Asian adults 65 years or older, who are residing in the United States and to make appropriate recommendations for future research, interventions, and programs for this subpopulation of South Asian Americans.
Key Findings: Older South Asian Americans are a diverse group. They are primarily persons who immigrated early and “aged in place” and newer immigrants who often followed their adult children. The mortality profile of older South Asian Americans shows high lung cancer rates in men and high breast cancer rates in women. Additionally, as with the general South Asian population, rates of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus are extremely high for older South Asians in the United States. Though formal studies of cognitive disorders in the United States have not been conducted among South Asians, based on their risk profile, this population may have up to twice the rate of cognitive disorders including Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, physical function, diet, and exercise are often poor among South Asian American adults.
Recommendations: This chapter is a call to action to address the research and practice gaps identified. The highest priorities are neurocognitive disorders, elder abuse, and the healthcare access needs of noncitizen South Asian older adults. In the realm of lifestyle modifications, increased exercise and dietary changes can play an important role in improving diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular, and other health conditions. More culturally acceptable and culture-specific diets and exercise programs tailored to older South Asians are needed. Family-centered approaches, in-home support services that focus on geriatric syndromes such as depression and falls, and the caregiving burden related to dementia are also required. Finally, older South Asians may have unique, family-centered requests as they age, so there is a need to address preferences for end-of-life care.
