A health survey of Klamath Indian elders 30 years after the loss of tribal status.

Federal recognition of the tribal status of the Klamath Indians of Oregon was terminated by Congress in 1954, along with all health, education, and welfare services. In the winter and spring of 1985 a health status and health care needs assessment was conducted among 202 Klamath Indians ages 40 years and older with the use of a shortened version of the Older Americans Resources and Services (OARS) instrument. Twenty percent of the Klamaths surveyed reported having diabetes, and more than 30 percent reported having arthritis, rheumatism, or hypertension, or having had their gallbladder removed. The data were compared with those of national surveys of Indian and non-Indian elders that also used the OARS instrument. Even though the Klamaths surveyed were younger than the comparison groups, their health status was no better than that of other Indians and was worse than that of the non-Indian population. Moreover, among these Klamath adults, health insurance coverage was lower, and perceived unmet needs for medical care were higher than in either of the comparison groups.