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Objectives: The objective is to examine how older Korean Americans’ perceived burdensomeness to their healthcare partners is associated with the characteristics of older adult participants ( egos) and their healthcare partners ( alters). Methods:Surveys of 2150 participants in the Study of Older Korean Americans provided ego data. Participants were also asked to list up to three individuals whom they usually asked for help on health-related matters or healthcare use, which generated 3402 alters. Multilevel modeling was conducted to examine the role of the characteristics of egos and alters, as well as their cross-level interactions. Results: Perceived burdensomeness was negatively associated with English-speaking ability and residence in a low Korean density area. Perceived burden was also lowered when emotional support was received from the alters, and this pattern was pronounced among those with multi-comorbidity. Discussion: By identifying older immigrants prone to the sense of burdensomeness, the study suggests strategies to promote their health and healthcare use.

Objectives To examine the cross-sectional association of linguistic adaptation with cognitive function, as well as its interactions with sociodemographic and health profiles in older Chinese and Korean immigrants in the U.S. Methods Using harmonized data ( N = 5063) from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly (PINE) and the Study of Older Korean Americans (SOKA), we examined between- and within-group differences in the role of linguistic adaptation (English use in older Chinese Americans and English proficiency in older Korean Americans) in cognitive function. Results The positive association between linguistic adaptation and cognitive function was common in both groups. We also found that the relationship was pronounced among subgroups with the underlying linguistic and cognitive vulnerabilities (i.e., the very old, women, those with low education, and newly immigrated individuals). Discussion Findings show the importance of linguistic adaptation in older immigrants’ cognitive health and suggest a need for targeted interventions for high-risk groups.

Objectives: To examine predictors of membership in discordant groups identified by subjective and objective measures of cognitive function. Methods: Participants in the Study of Older Korean Americans ( N = 2046) were classified according to their subjective cognitive ratings ( excellent/ very good/ good vs. fair/ poor) and Mini-Mental State Examination scores (normal cognition vs. cognitive impairment), yielding two discordant groups: (1) positive ratings but cognitive impairment and (2) negative ratings but normal cognition. Logistic regression models examined how the discordant group membership was associated with personal resources. Results: Among those with positive cognitive ratings, the odds of belonging to the discordant group were associated with low personal resources (advanced age and lower levels of education, acculturation, and knowledge about Alzheimer’s disease). However, an opposite pattern was observed among those with negative ratings. Discussion: The pattern of discordance suggests ways to promote early detection of cognitive impairment and close the gap in cognitive health care.

Objective: Given the importance of social ties and connectedness in the lives of older ethnic immigrants, the present study examined the prevalence of social isolation and its risk factors in older Korean Americans. Method: Using survey data from 1,301 participants ( Mage = 70.5, SD = 7.24), risk groups for marginal social ties with family and friends were identified and predictors of each type of social isolation explored. Results: Male gender and poorer rating of health were identified as common risk factors for marginal ties to both family and friends. Findings also present specific risk factors for each type of social isolation. For example, an increased risk of having marginal ties with friends was observed among individuals with perceived financial strain, greater functional impairment, and a shorter stay in the United States. Discussion: The common and specific risk factors should be incorporated in programs to reduce social isolation in older immigrant populations.

Objective: The study explored predictors of dental care utilization and unmet dental needs in older Korean Americans, considering predisposing, enabling (dental insurance, acculturation, and family network), and need (self-rated oral health) variables. Method: Multivariate regression models were used to evaluate the data from 209 Korean Americans (aged ≥60) surveyed in Central Texas. Results: Participants with strong family networks and fair/poor self-ratings of oral health reported higher numbers of dental visits in the past year. The likelihood of having an unmet dental need increased when participants had less education, a shorter stay in the United States, no dental insurance coverage, lower levels of acculturation, more limited family networks, fair/poor self-ratings of oral health, and fewer numbers of dental visits. Discussion: Our findings underscore the vulnerability of individuals who are culturally and linguistically isolated and lack family resources, and they highlight the importance of incorporating social and cultural factors in intervention efforts.