Vyjeyanthi S. Periyakoil
Building a Culturally Competent Workforce to Care for Diverse Older Adults: Scope of the Problem and Potential Solutions
VA Palo Alto Health Care System|Stanford University
population minority older adults going explode next four decades older adults racial ethnic minorities face persistent pervasive health disparities health disparities exert huge fiscal burden nation national financial cost health disparities years 2002 2006 estimated 123 trillion dollars aging population becomes diverse disparityrelated costs expected increase older adults racial ethnic minorities face multiple barriers accessing health support services help age die place community patientrelated barriers include limited english proficiency low health literacy varying levels acculturation biases western healthcare medications mistrust clinicians inability navigate complex healthcare system cultural beliefs taboos clinicianrelated barriers include ageism ie discrimination older people due negative inaccurate stereotypes conscious unconscious bias deeply entrenched culture biomedicine lack training principles practice providing culturally respectful care health systemrelated barriers include lack culturally tailored services including access medical interpreters conclude identifying three specific strategies facilitate culturally humble respectful care diverse patients j geriatr soc 67s423s432 2019