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Healthcare System Preferences Of American Indian Culture

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As the American Indian population aged 65 years and older is projected to triple by 2050, it is crucial to gain a deeper understanding of their health concepts, decision-making processes, and healthcare system preferences (Module 5: Global Health and Aging, pg. 3). This paper aims to identify and discuss the significant factors that shape the understanding of health concepts, decision-making processes, and healthcare system preferences of American Indian older adults. Cultural, historical, and geographical contexts heavily influence the unique health beliefs and practices of American Indians. Other factors such as socioeconomic status, historical experience, geographic location, cultural beliefs, and practices also play critical roles in each …show more content…

Individuals with higher socioeconomic status typically have better access to healthcare, education, and resources that promote healthy living. However, historical experience, such as the traumatic past of American Indians, also plays a significant role in shaping their health outcomes and attitudes toward healthcare systems. Furthermore, cultural beliefs and practices heavily influence how individuals perceive health, illness, and healing, leading some cultures to prefer traditional healers over modern healthcare systems. Finally, the geographic location of individuals also influences their ability to access healthcare facilities, with those living in rural or isolated areas having limited options for healthcare systems. These multiple factors, including socioeconomic status, cultural beliefs and practices, historical experience, and geographic location, collectively shape the healthcare experiences and outcomes of the growing American Indian population aged 65 years and …show more content…

For example, “...research in many cultural settings shows that older people prefer to be in their own homes and communities, even if that means living alone. This preference is reinforced by greater longevity, expanded friendly housing, and an emphasis in many nations on community care” (Module 5: Global Health and Aging, pg. 22). This reliance on family is deeply ingrained in American Indian culture, where children and grandchildren are highly respected and play a significant role in caregiving for older adults. In the context of health care, decision-making is often a collective process that involves input from family members and community leaders. Additionally, the experiences endured by American Indians, such as being forcibly removed from their land, subjected to colonization, and assimilation policies, have profoundly affected their health outcomes and perspectives regarding healthcare systems. This traumatic past has resulted in many American Indians harboring a deep-seated skepticism of mainstream healthcare systems. According to the

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