Healthcare Needs, Barriers, and Practices among Refugee Older Adults: A Scoping Review

<p dir="ltr">This scoping review examines the healthcare needs, barriers, and practices of refugee older adults, with a focus on their healthcare access and utilization. Refugee older adults were defined as refugees who are 55 years of age or older. Utilizing the JBI methodology for scoping reviews, this study analyzed the data extracted from sources published in English between January 2010 and February 2024. Refugee older adults’ healthcare needs were: culturally safe healthcare needs, illness related healthcare needs, and support for activities of daily living. Major barriers to healthcare access and utilization were financial constraints, language and communication challenges, transportation difficulties, and systemic inefficiencies and resource constraints. Their healthcare seeking behaviors and practices were shaped by their health literacy levels, and cultural and religious beliefs. A significant preference for culturally safe, and community-based, healthcare interventions influenced by ‘traditional’ practices and family support was noted. The findings stress the need for healthcare policies that integrate the diverse needs of older refugees, that involve enhancements in language support, transportation access, and the development of inclusive and culturally-safe healthcare provision models to improve their health and wellbeing.</p>