title: Community demographics, socio-economic and health status among older Australian residents of Japanese origin living in New South Wales, Australia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to describe demographic and socio-economic characteristics and to assess baseline health status and care needs among Japanese residents aged 60 years and over living in New South Wales, Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A postal questionnaire was used to survey older community-dwelling Japanese residents recruited from a number of different sources.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-two residents responded to the questionnaire (mean age: 70.5 years, range 60-85), and 56 (68.3%) were female. The respondents appeared to be socio-economically comfortable. While 63.4% of respondents noticed reduced strength and balance, and 45% had at least one chronic medical condition, the majority did not require help with personal care or domestic chores. However, there were respondents who were considered at risk of subsequent development of major mobility limitations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, the respondents in this study demonstrated good function. There may be a role for interventional programs aimed at maintaining functional independence.
authors.affiliation: Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Service, St. Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Yuriko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.affiliation: Gosford Hospital, Gosford, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Kazuma
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Honda
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000208:ethnology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D007564:Japan / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D053580:Muscle Strength; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D004856:Postural Balance; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Japanese; aging; cultural diversity; health literacy; migrants