Providence Health & Services Southern California has joined forces with a nonprofit social service agency based in downtown’s Little Tokyo district to offer the nation’s first palliative care targeted for Japanese-Americans.

The goal of the partnership with Keiro Services is to give elderly Japanese-Americans help getting to the doctor while overcoming language and cultural barriers that can be especially tough.

Executives of both organizations said the program aims to reduce emergency room and hospital admissions, and allow older Japanese-Americans to stay in their homes.

“For older Japanese patients managing serious illnesses, particularly those who don’t speak English, the world outside their door can feel intimidating and present barriers to getting access to the support they need,” Dr. Edwin Yanami, who will lead a palliative care team from Providence’s Torrance campus, said in a statement. “Through an understanding of their unique needs and a culturally sensitive approach to meet those needs, we can provide them with the resources and support that enable them to live out their lives in their own home, surrounded by family.”

The three-year partnership, announced last week, will provide medical and support services to serve an estimated 70,000 Japanese-American seniors and Japanese-speaking adults in Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties.

The Keiro-Providence Whole Person Care Program will address patient pain and symptom management, care planning, safety assessment and transportation as well as medical, spiritual and other support. It will be available regardless of ability to pay.

Providence, which operates six Catholic hospitals in the region and whose hospice services just won a national award, will provide the medical care with doctors and nurses fluent in Japanese.

Keiro, which has served the Japanese-American community in Southern California for a half-century and committed $1.7 million to the program, will provide the social services.