Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Top Stories

Can AI Fill the Silence for Aging-Abroad Seniors?

Can AI Fill the Silence for Aging-Abroad Seniors?
man and woman walking on road during daytime

Since 2023, 30.8% of King County households have reported speaking a foreign language other than English at home. The demographic shift indicates that residents aged 65 and older are projected to increase by 85% between 2020 and 2035, according to Age Friendly Seattle.

Among them, a growing number are immigrants with limited English proficiency, often isolated from digital tools and access to public services.


According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), over 25 million people in the United States are bilingual yet have limited English proficiency (LEP). When accessing healthcare services, limited communication between care providers and patients can lead to adverse outcomes, including risks to patient safety or even death.

On March 1, 2025, President Donald Trump issued Executive Order (EO) 14224, officially designating English as the U.S. national language — a historic first at the federal level and canceled EO 13166, signed by Clinton, which obliged federal agencies to offer language access for individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP).

While EO 14224 is not explicitly against multilingual services, it abolished longstanding laws and policies that ensure federal agencies work to eliminate discrimination against LEP individuals.

Roughly 13% of King County seniors have reported facing language barriers, often relying on family members or community centers to navigate basic to vital life tasks, such as making a doctor's appointment, ordering food, filling up gas, and asking for directions.

"The language barrier is one of the most critical issues for our older adult clients," said Meeran Sung, a case manager at the Korean Community Service Center (KCSC). "Older folks come to me for help in private matters like phone bills or apartment documents, but when it comes to government programs like food stamps or housing, it gets harder. I have to meet with them one-on-one, explain the programs in their language, and help them fill out applications."

Many immigrants who often relocate to be with their children face inevitable barriers to access as they "age abroad," which often exposes them to a high risk of dementia, social isolation, and a lack of culturally appropriate care.

"Many older adults say their children are too busy to help," Sung said. "We often hear about conflict between first-generation parents and second-generation children, especially when cultural differences or language barriers exist. Many older immigrants don't want to burden their children, so they avoid asking for help even when needed."

Language barriers also complicate life for families in the "sandwich generation," where adult children must juggle raising their own children while caring for aging parents.

"There are a lot of challenges for middle-aged folks who are both parenting and caregiving," said Grace Lee, a program coordinator at KCSC. "They feel responsible but often don't have the right resources or time to give their parents the care they need."

The United Nations Population Division Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) reports that by 2050, one in six people globally will be over 65.

As the global aging issue grows louder, AI-based health tools have evolved into fascinating approaches to elderly care.

The demand for AI-powered community services that utilize AI to alleviate caretakers' burden and enhance their responsibilities has been increasing, ensuring seniors have access to all aspects of communal life without facing discrimination, isolation, abuse, or other forms of exploitation.

According to the NIH, AI-based health technologies can detect early warning signs of disease and offer personalized, prompt treatment plans based on precise data analysis.

For instance, an automated home safety wearable device, such as an Apple Watch, tracks and analyzes data from the user's vital signs and activity level, sending real-time alerts to designated family members or medical agents without human intervention when it detects something unusual based on the electronic health record.

Additionally, telehealth platforms are revolutionizing long-limited access to 1:1 doctor consultations for aging and younger populations in remote or underserved areas.

Lindsay Kim is an administrative officer, caseworker, legislative & research assistant, and freelance student journalist studying at the University of Washington.

Lindsay was a student in Hugo Balta's solutions journalism class. Balta is the Fulcrum's executive editor and the publisher of the Latino News Network. The Fulcrum is committed to nurturing the next generation of journalists. Learn more by clicking HERE.

Please help the Fulcrum's NextGen initiatives by donating HERE!

Read More

Donald Trump and Elon Musk
President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk sit ringside at a UFC fight in November.
Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

With Billions of Dollars Controlling American Politics, the Government Will Never Be for the People

The Fulcrum is committed to nurturing the next generation of journalists. To learn about the many NextGen initiatives we are leading, click HERE.

We asked Jared Tucker, a student at the University of Washington and a cohort member with the Fulcrum Fellowship, to share his thoughts on what democracy means to him and his perspective on its current health.

Keep ReadingShow less
Elbows Up, Arms Crossed
people gathering near green trees during daytime
Photo by Malu Laker on Unsplash

Elbows Up, Arms Crossed

Last month, 23andMe announced it was filing for bankruptcy, and dozens of states are suing to stop the company from selling off personal data. Yet, unlike for-profit businesses, lawyers in nonprofit organizations cannot just stop representing clients when funding ends. We continue the representation until the matter is concluded. This is a quagmire; immigration cases such as a U Visa can take 30 years to process from start to finish.

We also have a duty of confidentiality of information. This means that we cannot disclose information about representation. I remember learning, as a young attorney, that much like a doctor or therapist, if I saw a client in public, I could not speak to them or disclose that I knew them, unless they initiated that contact. The fact that I was a lawyer and guarded their secrets means everything.

Keep ReadingShow less
Congress Bill Spotlight: Congress Meeting in Philadelphia on Declaration of Independence 250th Anniversary

New legislation would convene Congress at Philadelphia’s Independence Hall, the site of the Declaration of Independence’s signing on July 4, 1776, for the 250th anniversary on July 2, 2026.

Getty Images, Douglas Rissing

Congress Bill Spotlight: Congress Meeting in Philadelphia on Declaration of Independence 250th Anniversary

Hopefully, Nicolas Cage wouldn’t steal it this time, like he did in 2004’s implausible adventure movie National Treasure.

What the bill does

Keep ReadingShow less
U.S. Strikes Iran Nuclear Sites: Trump’s Pivot Amid Middle East Crisis

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Dan Caine discusses the mission details of a strike on Iran during a news conference at the Pentagon on June 22, 2025, in Arlington, Virginia.

(Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

U.S. Strikes Iran Nuclear Sites: Trump’s Pivot Amid Middle East Crisis

In his televised address to the nation Saturday night regarding the U.S. strikes on Iran, President Donald Trump declared that the attacks targeted “the destruction of Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world’s number one state sponsor of terror.” He framed the operation as a necessary response to decades of Iranian aggression, citing past attacks on U.S. personnel and Tehran’s support for militant proxies.

While those justifications were likely key drivers, the decision to intervene was also shaped by a complex interplay of political strategy, alliance dynamics, and considerations of personal legacy.

Keep ReadingShow less