Assessing The Health Needs of Older Adults Living in an Underserved Urban Community

Abstract

Between 2012 and 2050, the population of older adults (>65 years old) is projected to nearly double and the preservation of their capacity to live independently remains a large public health concern. The American Gold Star Manor is a not for profit trust that owns and operates an older adult living community, subsidized by the Housing and Urban Development Division of the United States. Located in an urban subsect of northern Long Beach, California, the manor is home to seniors with relations to the United States military and veterans. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the health needs of a multi-ethnic older adult population in an underserved urban community. The data collected from this study will be used in a future study to inform the development and assessment of a monthly walking program for older adults living at Gold Star Manor. METHODS: An information session was held at American Gold Star Manor where an eleven-item survey was used to assess the current health needs of residents living at Gold Star Manor. In total, 29 residents (62+ years) attended the information session and completed the survey. The residents were given a set of topics and instructed to mark all topics they were interested in learning more about. Additionally, they were given space to fill in any topics that were not part of the provided selection. RESULTS: Of the 29 individuals surveyed, we found that 55% residents preferred English as their spoken language, 35% residents preferred Korean as their spoken language, and 10 residents preferred Spanish. Of the choices provided, 66% residents selected joint health, 62% selected social health, 48% selected cardiovascular health, 34% selected pedestrian safety, and 34% selected hydration and nutrition. In the open-ended section, residents recorded interest in learning about diabetes management, physical fitness, and cognitive health. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the needs assessment, the topics garnering the most interest among the American Gold Star Manor residents include joint health, social health, cardiovascular health, pedestrian safety, hydration, nutrition, diabetes management, physical fitness, and cognitive health.