Gerontology
Volume 65, Issue 3, 2019, Pages 209-215

Determining physical and mental health conditions present in older adult refugees: A mini-review (Review) (Open Access)

Frost C.J.* , Morgan N.J. , Allkhenfr H. , Dearden S. , Ess R. , Albalawi W.F. , Berri A. , Benson L.S. , Gren L.H.
  • a Center for Research on Migration and Refugee Integration, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States
  • b Center for Research on Migration and Refugee Integration, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States
  • c Center for Research on Migration and Refugee Integration, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States
  • d Center for Research on Migration and Refugee Integration, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States
  • e Center for Research on Migration and Refugee Integration, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States
  • f Center for Research on Migration and Refugee Integration, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States
  • g Center for Research on Migration and Refugee Integration, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States
  • h Center for Research on Migration and Refugee Integration, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States
  • i Center for Research on Migration and Refugee Integration, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States

Abstract

In 2017, there were over 65 million displaced persons at the global level, with approximately 23 million of these people living as refugees around the world. In this same year, the US resettled 53,716 refugees, with the State of Utah receiving 954 of those refugees. Refugees, in general, often face health-related challenges upon resettlement. Since the health of aging refugee men and women is of growing concern, host communities face significant challenges in accommodating the health needs of a diverse refugee population. This study, a review of physical and mental health data from the Utah Department of Health, was undertaken in an effort to ascertain the prevalence of health conditions among refugee men and women 60 years and older arriving in Utah. Findings include information on diseases correlated with increasing age, such as hypertension, decreases in vision, arthritis, and low back pain, which are common among this population of refugees aged 60 years and older. Overall, most of the health conditions assessed affect women and men with a similar prevalence. Some notable exceptions are a history of torture and violence, and a propensity for tobacco use. When dealing with refugee men older than 60 years, providers should consider the psychological ramifications of having endured such atrocities, as well as introduction to evidence-based tobacco cessation programs. When working with refugee women of the same age, an increase in the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and urinary tract infections should be considered. © 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Author Keywords

Physical health Older adult refugees Mental health

Index Keywords

depression tobacco use refugee anxiety disorder mass screening urinary tract infection tinea macrocytic anemia Utah silver human aging failure to thrive priority journal hypertension Aged physical disease mental disease arthritis cornea opacity male female Review visual disorder musculoskeletal pain prevalence scabies Low Back Pain adult posttraumatic stress disorder infection ethnicity Torture
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85052738077&doi=10.1159%2f000491695&partnerID=40&md5=fc0c3bb37218628ee1d71aeea5b69c8a
DOI: 10.1159/000491695
ISSN: 0304324X
Original Language: English