183642 American Indian and Alaska Native Elder Health in California

Monday, October 27, 2008

Delight Satter, MPH , Community Health Sciences, UCLA, School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
Steven Wallace, PhD , UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, Los Angeles, CA
As more American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIAN) live to adulthood and old age, the elderly population is projected to increase from 5.5% in 1990 to 12.6% in 2050 as a proportion of the total AIAN population. This shifting demographic profile of the population calls for focused attention on the health status of elders. More AIAN reside in California than any other state.

This study analyzes data from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) - the most comprehensive source of health information on Californians. The CHIS 2001, 2003 and 2005 contains the largest known random sample of AIAN - 6,550 adults.

This study focuses on providing data never before available for CA's AIAN elders. It utilizes a Community Based Participatory Approach; it is endorsed by 24 tribes, 13 urban Indian organizations, four federal agencies and many more.

This presentation will contain prevalence data for the following conditions: heart disease (e.g. 7% diagnosed); arthritis; cancer; and disabling conditions (e.g. falls). We will report demographic data, including: AIAN vs. non-Latino white and poverty rates (e.g. 50% below 200% fpl vs. 21%). Finally, we will present data on access to care issues including: access to care; satisfaction of care; no usual source of care; and no health insurance.

Assessing and understanding the disease burden among California AIAN elders will enable service providers, health advocates, and policy makers to set priorities and allocate resources that will benefit the health and well being of this vulnerable population.

Learning Objectives:
By the end of this presentation attendees should be able to: understand the shifting demographics of the AIAN population with respect to aging issues; describe health status, access to care, utilization data for both reservation/rural and urban AIAN elders who live in CA; understand potential community building processes that can be utilized when working with Native communities; be able to access the CHIS data.

Keywords: Aging, American Indians

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I conduct research in this area.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: American Indian And Alaska Native Health Issues From North To South
See more of: American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Caucus