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Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (ADRD) significantly impact the well-being of older adults and their families. Studies have documented racial/ethnic disparities in prevalence, health information, diagnosis delays, and limited access to social and healthcare systems among minority groups regarding ADRD. Korean Americans, primarily comprised of first-generation immigrants with familial ties to Korea, face unique life challenges due to limited English proficiency and cultural differences, affecting their healthcare accessibility and literacy. Despite the identified racial/ethnic gaps in ADRD, it is still understudied how Korean Americans understand and experience the diseases as immigrants. This study aims to explore ADRD discourses among Korean Americans to gain insights into their perceptions, attitudes, and experiences.
Methods
Text data from MissyUSA, one of the largest online Korean American communities, posted from 2015-2023 in the Life Q&A section were analyzed. In total, 882 posts, including 147 main posts and 735 replies, were included in the analysis. Search terms included dementia, Alzheimer’s, and senility in both Korean and English. Utilizing text-mining thematic analysis guided by Braun and Clarke’s (2006) framework, two researchers independently coded the posts, crosschecked, and extracted emerging themes.
Results
Six themes emerged, and we categorized them into three: asking for information, seeking advice, and fact-checking. First, posts asking for information focused on seeking (1) Korean-speaking healthcare or nursing facilities in the US for their parents, (2) resources in Korea for distant caregiving for their parents, and (3) preventative measures for ADRD. Next, advice-seeking posts sought assistance (4) in determining whether their parents or themselves had ADRD based on the behavioral changes, symptoms, or sudden forgetfulness and (5) in resolving challenges related to caring for parents living with ADRD. Finally, discourses engaged in fact-checking discussed (6) the validity of research evidence and personal experiences associated with ADRD attributes.
Conclusion and Implications
The findings of this study reveal the unique needs of Korean Americans concerning ADRD within international contexts. Many expressed concerns about caregiving resources in Korea, particularly about reliable nursing facilities, highlighting the challenges of caregiving from a distance. Additionally, locating and accessing Korean-speaking healthcare professionals and facilities posed significant challenges for those caring for their family members with ADRD in the US. Furthermore, this study underscores a lack of knowledge about ADRD and support systems developed in the US among this population, emphasizing the need for linguistically and culturally appropriate initiatives to address health information gaps and enhance preparedness for an ADRD caregiving career.