By Issa A. Mansaray

An increasing number of elderly immigrants from Africa and other countries are bored and lonely, said a report Caring for Elderly Immigrants, from the Minnesota Medical Association.

Aging may be defined using a functional or formal definition. A functional definition is based on biological deterioration and decreased ability to care for oneself,” the report said.

Elderly immigrant patients may find minor technical tasks difficult and overwhelming. Societies that define aging in this term isolate or abandon elders who are unable to care for themselves.  In formal definition, aging is base on external events not necessarily related to physical aging that may include the birth of a grandchild or reaching a specific age such as 60 or 80 years, the report said.

Elders are mostly isolated in their apartments. Probably alone in the country without any immediate family members, said Dr. Alvine Siaka, executive director of African Health Action Corporation, a local organisation that assists recent immigrants in various issues.  Many of these elders lack knowledge of proper diet,  especially those that are supposed to eat  foods instructed by doctors. Some elderly immigrants are diabetic and need special food, but they are encouraged to eat whatever is available to them. Many need emotional support.

The report also shows an increase in population in Minnesota from 1990 to 2000. Much of the increase is
because of the growth in ethnic and minorities groups in the Upper Midwest. There are health problems also associated with this increasing immigrant population. Lack of communication, and information training skills for elders are some of the problems.

In recent years, from 1900 to 2003, the African-American population increased from approximately 77,000 to 142,000, according to the report. The Latino and Hispanic population also  increased from 53,000 to approximately 143,000. In the past 10 years, other ethnic groups, especially from Africa have experienced sharp increases in their population. From the 514,000 colored people living in Minnesota, 24,336 (about 4.7 percent) are aged 60 or older. There is also a Demographic change within the region, especially in Olmsted County, which is typical of Minnesota, the report said.

In Rochester, for example, the report revealed that 88 percent of those who moved there during the 1990s were not white. And, about 75 percent of these new residents were not native English speakers. Of the 12,000 people of color residing in Olmsted, 524 (about 4.4 percent) are 60 years or older, the report said.

With such a rapid growth in minority and multicultural populations, Minnesota faces health care challenges to help immigrant elders. Immigrant communities, according Multicultural Healthcare Alliance lack health  care access skills, Elderly immigrant patients often have serious medical needs that require special attention from physicians and health care institutions,”said the report. This requires a review of their needs and basic concepts in understanding and caring for these patients.”

In 1997, Multicultural Health Care collaborated with Mayo Clinic Rochester, and Olmsted County Public Health Services to address the needs of immigrants. The main goals of the alliance are to help elder immigrants access health care services, and promote
cultural competence in local and public health institutions.

In June 2000, the alliance initiated a Pathfinder Program’ to improve health care access for the Somali, Latino, and Cambodian communities of Olmsted County. The program trained bilingual and bicultural workers to help their communities acquire knowledge, and independent skills needed to access health care services. Many in these communities speak little  or no English.

One of the main issues confronting elderly immigrants is communication. Most elderly immigrants face a language barrier, said Dr. Joyce Onyakaba, head of the Minneapolis based Crown Medical Clinic. Lack of knowledge keeps them away from getting the resources  that are available to them. The majority of these elders stick together and that limits information. They are old and the only people they can communicate with properly are their families or members of their communities. Because of language limitations, to fit into the system is big problem to them, said Dr. Onyakaba.