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Symposium

Behavioral and Social Sciences

Aging, Health, and Caregiving in Arab and Arab Immigrant Populations

Wednesday, November 13, 2024
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM PST
Location: Room 615
CE: 1.5

There has been a rapid increase in the number of older adults in Arab countries and among Arab immigrants in the US, leading to growing attention to the health and associated care needs due to impairments in physical and cognitive function. Although traditionally, the expectation may have been that the care for these needs would be provided by next of kin, family care resources are becoming less available due to significant social change, such as migration of offspring generations to larger urban centers or other countries. Because formal sources of care are often insufficient or lacking, older Arab adults face an increasingly challenging care environments for their basic care needs. The presentations in this symposium will reflect on aging and caregiving drawing from four geographic sources of information: Egypt, Lebanon, Qatar, and Detroit, Michigan. The Egyptian data come from a pilot study testing the feasibility of conducting a population-based longitudinal study of older adults based on the HRS Around the World Framework, documenting initial findings regarding cognitive impairment. The Lebanon study provides data from a new population-based survey study on caregiving burden and its correlates among older Lebanese adults that provide care to others. The Qatar data come from a qualitative study describing the Muslim religion-inspired belief systems that shape caregiving expectations and practices. The Michigan study presents findings from a culturally adapted intervention for caregivers of older Arab American patients with dementia. Together, these data provide an overview of caregiving needs and practices in Arab and Arab-American populations.

Learning Objectives:

  • demonstrate a better understanding of the cultural influences affecting the health-related caregiving practices from an Arab perspective
  • list important demographic and social changes that will affect family support in the caregiving arrangements for older adults in Arab and Arab immigrant populations
  • define the strategic importance of longitudinal studies in low- and middle-income Arab countries to identify the health-related care needs and associated geriatric healthcare policies and interventions for older adults

Presentations:

  • 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM PST
    Exploring Aging Dynamics in Egypt: Insights From the AL-SEHA Pilot Study

    Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Sara A. Moustafa, PhD (she/her/hers) – The American University in Cairo

  • 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM PST
    Supporting Arab Americans Families Living With Dementia: Testing a Culturally Adapted Intervention

    Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Kristine J. Ajrouch, PhD, FGSA (she/her/hers) – University of Michigan

  • 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM PST
    Caregiver Burden Among Lebanese Older Adults: Findings From LSAHA (Lebanon Study on Ageing and Health)

    Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Sawsan Abdulrahim, PhD, MPH (she/her/hers) – American University of Beirut