Engaging an Asian Immigrant Older Adult in Depression Care: Collaborative Care, Patient-Provider Communication and Ethnic Identity

Jin Hui Joo, Phoebe Rostov, Scott Feeser, Scott Berkowitz, Constantine Lyketsos

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Minority older adults face multiple barriers when trying to access mental health services and often present with more severe symptoms of mental health conditions. We describe the multilevel factors that contributed to the engagement of an Asian immigrant older adult with depression. Systems-level innovations such as collaborative care in primary care can increase access to care for all, including minority older adults; however, one size fits all interventions may not meet the needs of communities of older adults with different life experiences, language needs, norms and values regarding help-seeking for mental health. Health outcomes remain unequal, suggesting the need to tailor interventions for minority older adults. For the patient, specific factors related to language and ethnic concordance between patient and healthcare provider, communication behaviors, ethnic identity, and social norms may be important to take into account. The recognition of the heterogeneity of patients and the limitations of cultural competence approaches defined as broad, general knowledge about ethnic cultures may be needed. A need to learn continuously from clinical experience and adopt a patient-oriented model of communication and decision-making may successfully engage Asian immigrant older adults in depression care services.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1267-1273
Number of pages7
JournalAmerican Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
Volume29
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2021

Keywords

  • Asian elderly
  • Mental health services
  • dementia
  • depression
  • integrated care
  • primary care

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geriatrics and Gerontology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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