A Profile of Chinese American Elders Enrolled in a Primary Care-Based Geriatric Program at a Community Health Center in New York City

Background: Chinese American seniors in New York City face high levels of vulnerabilities and needs. Many seniors face low socioeconomic status and have limited English proficiency. Effective geriatric services need to address the complex health, mental health and social needs of underserved Chinese American elderly.

Objective: Understand characteristics of Chinese American elderly in order to improve delivery of services at Charles B. Wang Community Health Center

Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive analysis of patient data in EMR, including demographic variables, key health indicators, medical assessments, and referrals patterns. To complement data, conduct two focus groups—one with elderly patients ages 65 and over who have participated in the geriatric program for at least 6 months and a second comprised of their caregivers.

Results: 229 patients were enrolled in the geriatric program (mean age = 80.1 years, SD=6.8). Mean ADL = 10.4 (SD=2.2) and mean IADL=9.8 (SD=3.8). 93% were evaluated by social workers. 99% received vision assessments. 19% referred for homecare. Focus group findings indicate that many patients have chronic health conditions, and both physicians and nurses provide medication management. Focus group participants reported that social work services were extremely helpful to identify psychosocial needs and helped patients access important services such as home aides.

Discussion: Chinese American elderly have complex health and social needs. Using an interdisciplinary care team approach ensures that patients can access needed services and improves the management of chronic illnesses. Data collected will serve as a baseline for long-term evaluation of the geriatric program.