INITIATIVE TO PROMOTE KNOWLEDGE OF GERIATRIC SYNDROMES IN MINORITY OLDER COMMUNITIES AND CAREGIVERS

In addition to the ageing of the population, a significant sociodemographic change in the United States is the growth in the number of minorities. Minorities and older adults are particularly vulnerable to receiving suboptimal healthcare. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), is the primary Federal agency for improving and achieving health equity. Queens County in New York City is the most ethnically diverse urban area in the world. Funded by a grant from HRSA, in collaboration with various local community organizations, the Geriatric Resource Interprofessional Program (GRIP) at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) spearheaded a multi-prong educational initiative on geriatric syndromes targeting minority communities in Queens County. To date, 13 sessions were conducted at 7 community centers in Queens. A total of 521 people who spoke 13 different primary languages attended. The mean age of the participants was 63 (27–99, median 67); 53% were women, 8% were born in the USA, 56% were born in Bangladesh, 22% in India. Consecutive interpretation of the lectures was performed to the predominant language of the group; written materials were translated. Pre and post test questionnaires were administered to measure understanding. A focus group was set up to identify the needs of caregivers of older adults, and educational sessions have been offered based on those needs at main Community Centers. Main challenges included differences in literacy, multiple cultures and languages. Successes and barriers faced in implementing the educational initiative, as well as pre and post-test results will be presented.