Elder wellness programs focusing on empowering clients through culturally appropriate activities, while incorporating new experiences for them to gain confidence and independence.

1. Asian Elder Wellness Program
ANEW

2. OUR PURPOSE
To promote wellness and self sufficiency among immigrant and refugee
families through culturally sensitive and linguistically proficient services.

3. To be the premiere
provider of culturally
relevant services
empowering and
enriching immigrant
and refugee lives.
To advance the well-
being of the Asian
American Pacific Islander
community by providing
culturally appropriate
and integrated medical,
behavioral and related
services.

4. ANEW
ASIAN ELDER WELLNESS
• To promote senior wellness
through supporting the
Asian American Pacific
Islander (AAPI) elders in
our community to maintain
independent and healthy
lifestyles.
• We provide health
education groups and a
variety of other services to
ensure our elders’ needs are
met.

5. TARGET POPULATION
APDC staff and volunteers hold
elder wellness groups for the
following target communities in
locations most accessible to each
group.
• Burmese
• Bhutanese of Nepali origin
• Cambodian
• Chinese
• Japanese
• Karen
• Laotian
• Vietnamese

6. ACTIVITIES
APDC offers groups conducted in various Asian languages
focusing on senior health. Here are some activities that groups
participate in:
• Health Education
• Physical Fitness
• Practical English Skill
• Memory enhancing
activities
• Field Trips
• Social Gatherings
• FREE Refreshments

7. CULTURAL COMPETENCE
APDC strives to conduct groups
with a high level of cultural
competence and expertise.
• Language interpretation by APDC
staff, contractors and volunteers
• Adaptation of culturally
appropriate ways of teaching
within each group
• Location of groups
• Transportation
• Case management

9. Overall, results showed an increase on all seven measures.
These results informed programming to continue to
incorporate English lessons into health education due to an
overwhelming demand for more ESL classes as well as
evidenced based studies that indicate this method facilitates
learning of physical health material, especially for non-
English speakers.
In addition, participants rated the program excellent to very
good (1.86), indicating that they had learned a great amount
about health management (3.94), 96% reported exercising
more after the program, and 78% percent reported speaking
with the doctor more after the program.
Over 100 elderly group members who were previously
isolated and had not attended other health education classes
or support groups were registered for the program. Seventy
members regularly participated and completed health
education classes twice a month, each encounter for 2.5
hours. Members have been enthusiastic about participating
and have referred their friends and neighbors. Establishing
group meeting locations in close proximity to where
members live, has also contributed to regular attendance.
Results from the Geriatric Depression Scale give
n to some group members showed that 19 out of
46 (41 percent) scored “positive” on the scale, in
dicating possible Depression and 27 out of 46 (5
9 percent) scored “negative” on the scale. The La
otian group showed the highest percentage scori
ng “positive” and half of these group members ar
e current APDC clients receiving therapy service
s. The remainder of group members with “positi
ve scores” will be identified and outreached to fo
r further mental health education and services thr
ough APDC’s behavioral health clinic.

11. The Geriatric Depression Scale was administered to all
groups, (Chinese group results will come in January), and
results showed high rates of possible depression in the
Bhutanese, Cambodian, Karen, and Burmese Muslim group
members. The scale was administered to assist in screening
for individuals in possible need of individual counseling.
Post-assessment surveys showed an overall improvement in
all categories, with most significant changes being mental
stress management, amount of exercise per week and health
knowledge respectively. Self-reported exercise per week
went up to an average reported 30-60 minutes per week.
Mental stress management techniques went up from none to
an average reported score of 3-4 times per week. Health
knowledge went from a fair to good category on the
assessment scales. Self- efficacy in filling out forms also
went up from an average reporting of not at all to fair.

13. Exercise and stretching is
encouraged during each elder
wellness group meeting.
Groups have participated in
yoga, tai chi, Zumba and other
stretching exercises.

14. Groups participate in
field trips each year,
intended to expand
knowledge of local
resource and increase
socialization for group
members.