Older adult immigrants' experiences of being hospitalized: a qualitative study

Access to equal health services is a key issue in most European countries. In the coming years, immigrants will constitute an increasing proportion of older adults in Europe, and their need for healthcare services will likely increase. Healthcare services must prepare for such encounters to make them equitable. Older immigrants' hospitalization experiences require elucidation. Their patient experiences can provide important knowledge when the healthcare system is working toward equal and equitable healthcare services.

This study employed an exploratory qualitative design. Data were collected through narrative interviews with a purposive sample of eight older adult immigrants, aged 61-79 years. Patient narratives were analyzed using thematic analysis with a reflexive approach, as outlined by Braun and Clarke.

The analysis created three themes that shed light on older adult immigrants' experiences as hospital patients. The themes conveyed experiences related to challenging involvement and interaction, notions of what an ideal patient should be like, and participants not feeling valued as a person.

The findings indicate that communication between healthcare professionals and older adult immigrant patients is deficient: older immigrants in this study did not make their voices heard nor were they invited to participate by healthcare professionals. This contributes to limited involvement in assessment, treatment, and care. The older immigrants felt that they were not valued nor met as unique individuals. The findings indicate that health policy goals regarding patient participation and person-centered care are not met when older immigrants are patients. Consequently, the experiences of older adult immigrants in this study indicate that equal health services are at risk.