Although emigration from the former Soviet Union is dramatically increasing nationwide, little information has been reported on the medical problems of these emigr?s. For older emigr?s in particular, the medical realities of aging, in combination with cultural expectations, make the United States' medical system an arena where the stresses of emigration are expressed and help is sought. We describe the influences of culture and aging on older emigr?s' health and interaction with the American medical system. A qualitative, exploratory study was done of problems and issues in health care use by older Russian emigr?s at the ambulatory medical clinic of Mount Zion Medical Center, San Francisco. Cultural expectations and beliefs about health, adaptive health behaviors learned in the former Soviet Union, the stresses of emigration, and the medical realities of aging can result in serious problems in the care and treatment of older Russian emigr?s. Recommended solutions include educating emigr?s and health care professionals, integrating mental health services into the primary care setting, and expanding supportive services in the community such as adult day health care.
Aged Aging