To the Future of Ethnogeriatric Research and Publication.

Abstract

The reinstatement of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society Section on Ethnogeriatrics coincides with more rapid growth in older populations that are classified as ethnic and racial minorities in the United States than those classified as non-Hispanic white. By 2060, 40% of older Americans are predicted to belong to a minority. Important needs for ethnogeriatric research and publication include: making sure research populations are meaningful and precise rather than using categories that include many unrelated groups; and increasing research among smaller ethnic populations of older adults. Topics in need of attention include epidemiology of common geriatric illness among the smaller populations, and social determinants for those in which disparities have been established; the extent and effectiveness of use of Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services Standards in geriatric care; examination of communication strategies used in provider/patient interaction, especially use of interpreters; ethnic differences in treatment of older patients; and models of use of community health workers from older patients' own cultural communities. Stresses related to caregiving in cultures emphasizing the importance of family care are important to understand acceptable models of long-term care for diverse families. The new Ethnogeriatric Section opens the opportunity for geriatric researchers, especially those from diverse backgrounds, to explore important issues in cross-cultural geriatric care; their findings can then form the basis of expanded ethnogeriatric curriculum for training future providers for the growing population of diverse older Americans.