CONCERNS OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE IN OLDER CHINESE AMERICANS: THE ROLE OF ALZHEIMER’S LITERACY

摘要

Purpose: This study aims to understand the concerns of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in a sample of Chinese American elders aged 55 or older living in senior housing facilities. Focus of this study is the role of Alzheimer’s literacy (encompassing actual knowledge of AD and cultural beliefs of AD) in influencing elders’ concerns of AD.Methods: Survey was delivered to 207 Chinese American elders (Mage=75.3, SD=7.5) through face-to-face interviews. Participants were recruited from four subsidized senior housing facilities in Phoenix metropolitan areas. About two thirds were female, and 38.1% had less than high school education.Results: Participants had moderate levels of concerns about AD; the younger age group (55 to 64) was more concerned about AD than the older age group (age 80 or above). Participants who had more actual knowledge of AD had higher levels of concerns of AD; and those who embraced more traditional Chinese beliefs of AD (e.g., AD determined by one’s fate) reported higher levels of concerns of AD. Other significant risk factors included individuals’ depressive symptoms and lack of inter-generational support.Conclusion: Efforts should be made to address worries of Alzheimer’s in Chinese American elders in subsidized housing facilities. Emphasis should not be limited to enhancing individuals’ knowledge of AD. Special attention needs to be paid to reducing culturally biased perceptions of AD and addressing emotional disturbance that could arise in this group after they acquire information of AD, such as that AD is not curable at this point of time.