Guidance from AGS on Diversity Proves “Seeing” Older Patients is About More than Seeing Age
As the U.S. welcomes its largest and most diverse group of older residents, insights from ethnogeriatrics specialists at the AGS shed light on health disparities and the importance of embracing culture as a critical facet of care
New York (Feb. 4, 2016)—New guidance from the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) aims to transform approaches to healthcare for our increasingly diverse older population. Developed by a committee of experts in ethnogeriatrics (the study of how ethnicity and culture impact the health and well-being of older people), “Achieving High-Quality Multicultural Geriatric Care” outlines present health disparities and the need for sensitivity to culture and health literacy when working with older individuals. As we look toward a not-so-distant future in 2050 when more than 80 million Americans will be 65-years-old or older, the factors outlined by AGS experts represent aspirational hallmarks of health care for a nation where “minorities” will soon account for nearly 40 percent of all older adults.