وضعيت سلامت جسمي و رواني و ميزان استفاده از خدمات و مراقبت هاي سالمندي در بين سالمندان ايراني مقيم استراليا و ساير سالمندان استراليايي

To assess physical and mental health status and utilization of aged care services among Iranian elderly people residence in Australia: comparative study with the rest of the other Australian elderly

Objective(s): The present study explores the impact of acculturation on health status and use of health and community aged care services among elderly Iranian-born immigrants to Australia. These findings contribute to the enrichment of multicultural policy, social fairness, access, and equity for ethnic aged people. Methods: 302 Iranian immigrants aged 65 years and over who had lived in the Sydney Metropolitan area for at least six months participated. This study is crosses sectional study that done in 2005-7. The data were collected using completed and returned written survey instrument by mail, face-to-face interviews, and telephone interviews. Results: Iranian immigrants had higher levels of psychological distress, more limited physical function, greater need for help or assistance with activities of daily living, lower feelings of wellbeing, and were much less likely to use aged care services than the general population of older Australians. Participants who did not speak English at home were more likely to experience psychological distress and had greater limitations in their physical functioning. Elderly Iranians with better English proficiency had lower levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms and reported less need for help and supervision in activities of daily living; they were also more likely to access health care services. Conclusion: Elderly Iranian immigrants experience higher levels of psychological distress and lower levels of physical function than the general population of older Australians; those with limited proficiency in English are at greatest risk. Key words: Aged care services utilization, ADL, Basic aged care services, Elderly, K6, Psychological wellbeing; Supportive aged care services, SF-36 Journal of the Iranian Institute for