A Case Study in Assessing an Ethnically Diverse Community-Based Aging Population: A Multimethod Approach

Abstract

Obtaining useful information to improve services for older, multi-ethnic populations requires a nontraditional approach to assessing needs that can overcome both cultural barriers and natural suspicions about research. This case study describes a multimethod needs assessment conducted in a large senior housing facility, where 58% of residents were non-English-speaking. Methods of data collection were both qualitative and quantitative. Data were gathered by focus groups, interviews, and a written survey (N = 874) on topics of need for personal care assistance, level of assistance required for instrumental activities of daily living, and mobility. Qualitative inquiry yielded information about facilities and safety, and culturally specific needs, particularly communication. The case study concludes by discussing how the research findings translated into on-site programmatic changes, and delineating the factors that contributed to the success of this approach.

Elderly Care for Ethnic Minorities--Wishes and Expectations among Elderly Finns in Sweden

“…Davidhizar et al 1998;Fried 2000). Formal and informal support services, education of staff and alternative care have been suggested (Johnsson-Crockett and Barber 1990;Payne-Johnson 1992;Ebrahim 1996;Delgado and Tennstedt 1997), including linguistically competent care (Siddharthan and Sowers-Hoag 1989;Johnsson-Crockett and Barber 1990;Cohn et al 2000). Downloaded by [UNAM Ciudad Universitaria] at 07:05 23 December 2014 McFarland (1997) and Lee et al (2002) noticed in their literature reviews that there is a lack of studies concerning minority and immigrant elderly people's perceptions and experiences of care in institutional settings.…”