Addressing health and well-being of U.S. Chinese older adults through community-based participatory research: introduction to the PINE Study.

The PINE Study--the Population Study of ChINese Elderly in Chicago is a population-based epidemiological study of U.S. Chinese older adults in the greater Chicago area with primary aims to examine their health status and well-being. This special issue is designed to expand our current understanding on the health status, medical conditions, and well-being of U.S. Chinese older adults using findings from the PINE Study. In this article, we present research design, study findings, and important implications for researchers, community gatekeepers, and health care professionals. Through the information reported in this special issue, we call for increased family and community care, improved delivery of care, practice changes, and policy reform, to prepare for the growing numbers of minority older adults in dire need of culturally and linguistically appropriate health and social services.