With a growing population of older Korean Americans in the United States, the understanding of how culturally tailored health care services are perceived is essential. This study aimed to explore the experiences of older Korean Americans attending an Adult Medical Daycare Center (AMDC) and their health-related decision-making.
Methods:
We used a qualitative descriptive design involving purposive sampling of Korean Americans (>65 years) attending an AMDC. We performed interviews using a semi-structured interview guide and thematic analysis.
Results:
A total of 12 participants were interviewed. Participants reported sociocultural benefits, improved care access, and increased mental/physical health with AMDC attendance. However, participants reported loneliness and financial stress. In addition, participants reported either relying on themselves or on their family members/health care providers for health-related decision-making.
Discussion:
Older Korean Americans struggle with limited health knowledge from the language barrier, which limits their health-related decision-making ability. Older Korean Americans need culturally tailored interventions focused on increasing self-efficacy.
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