Arkers Kwan Ching Wong, Tianyi Liu, Luna Ziqi Liu, Jonathan Bayuo, Xingjuan Tao, Frances Kam Yuet Wong
{"title":"服务不足的城市社区老年人的医疗保健和社会需求:来自社区卫生工作者的见解。","authors":"Arkers Kwan Ching Wong, Tianyi Liu, Luna Ziqi Liu, Jonathan Bayuo, Xingjuan Tao, Frances Kam Yuet Wong","doi":"10.1007/s11524-025-01011-9","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>As populations age globally, ensuring equitable healthcare access and social support for older adults in underserved urban areas has become increasingly critical. Elderly residents in low-income districts face challenges, including poor living conditions, social isolation, and healthcare access barriers. Community health workers (CHWs) are vital in bridging these gaps, yet their effectiveness is often Limited by resources and training. This qualitative study explores the healthcare and social needs of elderly residents receiving community services, identifies gaps in support systems, and examines the challenges faced by CHWs in delivering care in an underserved urban district. The study took place in Sham Shui Po, a district in Hong Kong with a high concentration of economically disadvantaged elderly residents. Data were collected through 17 semi-structured interviews with older residents and non-governmental organization (NGO) staff, alongside three focus group discussions with CHWs, and were analyzed using thematic analysis. The results showed that senior residents faced poor living conditions, chronic illnesses, and mobility issues, exacerbated by financial constraints and limited healthcare access. Long wait times, transportation challenges, and language barriers hindered medical service use. Many struggled with digital healthcare tools, limiting their ability to manage health independently. CHWs provided vital support but encountered physical strain, inadequate training, and logistical difficulties, highlighting the need for structured training and better resources. Addressing elderly care challenges requires integrated healthcare models, expanded financial and digital literacy programs, and enhanced CHW training and support. Strengthening these areas can improve health outcomes and well-being for aging populations in low-income urban settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":49964,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Urban Health-Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":"{\"title\":\"Healthcare and Social Needs of Older Adults in Underserved Urban Communities: Insights from Community Health Workers.\",\"authors\":\"Arkers Kwan Ching Wong, Tianyi Liu, Luna Ziqi Liu, Jonathan Bayuo, Xingjuan Tao, Frances Kam Yuet Wong\",\"doi\":\"10.1007/s11524-025-01011-9\",\"DOIUrl\":null,\"url\":null,\"abstract\":\"<p><p>As populations age globally, ensuring equitable healthcare access and social support for older adults in underserved urban areas has become increasingly critical. Elderly residents in low-income districts face challenges, including poor living conditions, social isolation, and healthcare access barriers. Community health workers (CHWs) are vital in bridging these gaps, yet their effectiveness is often Limited by resources and training. This qualitative study explores the healthcare and social needs of elderly residents receiving community services, identifies gaps in support systems, and examines the challenges faced by CHWs in delivering care in an underserved urban district. The study took place in Sham Shui Po, a district in Hong Kong with a high concentration of economically disadvantaged elderly residents. Data were collected through 17 semi-structured interviews with older residents and non-governmental organization (NGO) staff, alongside three focus group discussions with CHWs, and were analyzed using thematic analysis. The results showed that senior residents faced poor living conditions, chronic illnesses, and mobility issues, exacerbated by financial constraints and limited healthcare access. Long wait times, transportation challenges, and language barriers hindered medical service use. Many struggled with digital healthcare tools, limiting their ability to manage health independently. CHWs provided vital support but encountered physical strain, inadequate training, and logistical difficulties, highlighting the need for structured training and better resources. Addressing elderly care challenges requires integrated healthcare models, expanded financial and digital literacy programs, and enhanced CHW training and support. Strengthening these areas can improve health outcomes and well-being for aging populations in low-income urban settings.</p>\",\"PeriodicalId\":49964,\"journal\":{\"name\":\"Journal of Urban Health-Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine\",\"volume\":\" \",\"pages\":\"\"},\"PeriodicalIF\":4.1000,\"publicationDate\":\"2025-09-27\",\"publicationTypes\":\"Journal Article\",\"fieldsOfStudy\":null,\"isOpenAccess\":false,\"openAccessPdf\":\"\",\"citationCount\":\"0\",\"resultStr\":null,\"platform\":\"Semanticscholar\",\"paperid\":null,\"PeriodicalName\":\"Journal of Urban Health-Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine\",\"FirstCategoryId\":\"3\",\"ListUrlMain\":\"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-025-01011-9\",\"RegionNum\":2,\"RegionCategory\":\"医学\",\"ArticlePicture\":[],\"TitleCN\":null,\"AbstractTextCN\":null,\"PMCID\":null,\"EPubDate\":\"\",\"PubModel\":\"\",\"JCR\":\"Q1\",\"JCRName\":\"MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL\",\"Score\":null,\"Total\":0}","platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Urban Health-Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-025-01011-9","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
Healthcare and Social Needs of Older Adults in Underserved Urban Communities: Insights from Community Health Workers.
As populations age globally, ensuring equitable healthcare access and social support for older adults in underserved urban areas has become increasingly critical. Elderly residents in low-income districts face challenges, including poor living conditions, social isolation, and healthcare access barriers. Community health workers (CHWs) are vital in bridging these gaps, yet their effectiveness is often Limited by resources and training. This qualitative study explores the healthcare and social needs of elderly residents receiving community services, identifies gaps in support systems, and examines the challenges faced by CHWs in delivering care in an underserved urban district. The study took place in Sham Shui Po, a district in Hong Kong with a high concentration of economically disadvantaged elderly residents. Data were collected through 17 semi-structured interviews with older residents and non-governmental organization (NGO) staff, alongside three focus group discussions with CHWs, and were analyzed using thematic analysis. The results showed that senior residents faced poor living conditions, chronic illnesses, and mobility issues, exacerbated by financial constraints and limited healthcare access. Long wait times, transportation challenges, and language barriers hindered medical service use. Many struggled with digital healthcare tools, limiting their ability to manage health independently. CHWs provided vital support but encountered physical strain, inadequate training, and logistical difficulties, highlighting the need for structured training and better resources. Addressing elderly care challenges requires integrated healthcare models, expanded financial and digital literacy programs, and enhanced CHW training and support. Strengthening these areas can improve health outcomes and well-being for aging populations in low-income urban settings.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Urban Health is the premier and authoritative source of rigorous analyses to advance the health and well-being of people in cities. The Journal provides a platform for interdisciplinary exploration of the evidence base for the broader determinants of health and health inequities needed to strengthen policies, programs, and governance for urban health.
The Journal publishes original data, case studies, commentaries, book reviews, executive summaries of selected reports, and proceedings from important global meetings. It welcomes submissions presenting new analytic methods, including systems science approaches to urban problem solving. Finally, the Journal provides a forum linking scholars, practitioners, civil society, and policy makers from the multiple sectors that can influence the health of urban populations.