By Tazuko Shibusawa
In 2007, 4.5 million elders, (12% of the older adult population) in the United States were immigrants or refugees (Terrazas, 2009). The majority of immigrants who arrived after the 1965 Immigration Act came from Mexico, Central and South America, and Asia, resulting in the dramatic growth of ethnic populations in the United States. It is estimated that by 2050 ethnic minorities will constitute 35% of the older adult population (Yoshizawa, Gordon, & Henkin, 2008). Although most immigrants arrive to the United States during young and middle adulthood, in recent years there has been a sharp increase in the number of people who migrate in late life—between 1999 to 2008, the number of older immigrants who were admitted as lawful permanent residents to the United States doubled from 32,407 to 60,604 (Terrazas, 2009).
Most older adults immigrate to be with their adult children. Although immigrants of all ages face stressors such as loss of a familiar environment, support systems, and identity and status, most studies suggest that it is more difficult to adjust to a new environment in late adulthood than young adulthood. Compared to those who immigrate earlier in life, older immigrants are thought to be less capable of meeting the demands of acculturation. Currently over half of the older immigrants have limited English proficiency. Elders who do not speak English tend be dependent on their children, which can be a source of family conflict. Elders also tend to be less financially stable, lack health insurance, and be in poorer physical and mental health than native born elders or those who immigrated earlier in life (Angel, Angel, Kee, & Markides, 1999; Lum & Vanderaa, 2009).
Another group of vulnerable elders are those who entered the United States as refugees. Following the war in Vietnam, the United States received close to 1.4 million refugees from Southeast Asia, and this population is aging. In recent years older refugees have come from war-torn nations such as Bosnia, Kurdistan, Somalia, and Sudan. Despite the growing interest in the impact of traumatic events on children and adults, very little attention has been paid to trauma and aging. Very little is known about the negative interactions between unresolved distant and recent trauma and stressors associated with aging.
It is important for social workers to understand the challenges that older immigrants and refugees face. At the same time, social workers must focus on this group’s strengths. Protective factors include support from families, friends, and neighbors; community resources; religious affiliation; and the ability to find meaning in life. It is heartening to see many organizations across the United Stated assisting older immigrants and refugees to integrate into their local communities by offering language and citizenship classes, opportunities for socialization, and most importantly a place to contribute and help others. Creating opportunities for older immigrants and refugees to be active and productive enables society to recognize all that they have to contribute—from transmitting traditional cultures and values to serving as role models through their resilience, perseverance, and capacity to thrive in the face of disruptive life challenges.
Tazuko Shibusawa is an associate professor at New York University Silver School of Social Work. Dr. Shibusawa's research focuses on the health and mental health of older adults and their families, including Asian immigrants, women who are at risk for abuse, and older adults who struggle with substance abuse. Her research has been funded by the National Institute of Drug Abuse and the John A. Hartford Foundation Geriatric Social Work Faculty Scholars Program.
References
Angel, R. J., Angel, J. L., Kee, G.-Y., & Markides, K. S. (1999). Age at migration and family dependency among older Mexican immigrants: Recent evidence from the Mexican American EPESE. Gerontologist, 39, 59–65. doi:10.1093/geront/39.1.59
Lum, T. Y., & Vanderaa, J., P. (2009). Health disparities among immigrant and non-immigrant elders: The association of acculturation and education. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 12(5), 743–753. doi:10.1007/s10903-008-9225-4
Terrazas, A. (2009, May). Older immigrants in the United States. Migration information source. Retrievedfrom http://www.migrationinformation.org/USfocus/display.cfm?id=727 - 1
Yoshizawa, H., Gordon, D., & Henkin, N. (2008). Community treasures: Recognizing the contributions of older immigrants and refugees. Retrieved from http://www.projectshine.org/sites/default/files/Community Treasures.pdf