Impact Areas

Stereotyped as the “model minority” – the myth that AAPIs are the highest-income, best-educated racial group in the country, with few, if any, needs – the unique challenges faced by AAPI older adults in accessing long-term services and supports, or LTSS, are often misunderstood and invisible. In addition, AAPI older adults suffer from discrimination that is different from other diverse elders. In some cases, they are denied access to LTSS, jobs, and other resources because of limited English proficiency or citizenship status. The relationships we have developed with AAPI communities over the past 38 years and our extensive direct service to AAPI older adults have allowed us to identify their unique needs and focus on the specific characteristics of AAPI elders where opportunities to improve their quality of life are possible.

Dementia

13.8% of older AAPIs across the nation reported an increase in confusion or memory loss, the second highest of all ethnic groups. The prevalence and incidence of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias within AAPI communities are still not well understood, but projections suggest the disease is rapidly increasing. Unfortunately, dementia long-term services and supports remain inaccessible to many AAPIs and their family caregivers across the nation.

 

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Elder Abuse Prevention

There is a growing belief that the prevalence and severity of elder mistreatment within AAPI communities and immigrant populations is higher than previously suspected. Asian immigrants seem less likely than other populations to report abuse and receive services, often due to language, cultural, social, and institutional barriers. Despite high vulnerability, AAPI older adults continue to face disparities in seeking and accepting help from mainstream elder abuse systems.

 

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Family Caregiving

42% of AAPIs provide care to an older adult, compared to 22% of the general population. Similarly, 17% of AAPIs live in multigenerational households, compared to 7% of the total population. While strength and resiliency are attributes of many AAPI families, AAPI family caregivers face unique challenges in caring for loved ones. Cultural issues, such as family shame, create barriers for AAPIs and their caregivers in accessing formal long-term services and supports.

 

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Healthy Aging

Healthy aging challenges faced by AAPI older adults are similar to the issues afflicting the aggregated older adult population throughout the United States. However, health disparities among AAPI older adults remains prevalent. Lacking culturally and linguistically competent resources, poor health literacy, unreliable enrollment platforms, immigration-related verification issues, funding challenges, and insufficient state policies contribute to inequitable health systems for AAPI older adults.

 

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Mature Workers

Mature workers tend to be dependable, reliable and resourceful, bringing valued experience and knowledge to the workforce. In addition to these attributes, AAPI mature workers often bring multilingual capabilities. Despite these advantageous aptitudes, AAPI mature workers face unique challenges in the workplace. For example, one’s education and work experience are not always transferable from one’s home country to the U.S., and limited- English skills can make it difficult to find jobs.

 

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