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LEARNING FROM THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF AGING IMMIGRANTS: FINAL REPORT Report written by

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Abstract

This report presents the results of a series of Stakeholder Outreach Forums held over 2018-19 in four regions across Canada – Greater Montréal, Québec City, Calgary, and Greater Vancouver. The outreach forums provided an opportunity for discussion of issues faced by aging immigrants in Canada. The forums built upon a SSHRC Insight Development Grant titled Intersecting Identities and Interlocking Oppressions, led by Drs. Shari Brotman, Sharon Koehn, and Ilyan Ferrer. This research resulted in the development of a narrative photovoice exhibit entitled The Lived Experiences of Aging Immigrants. Our outreach forums brought together stakeholders from multiple sectors to share information and strategize about the actions necessary to improve recognition and support for aging immigrants. Strategic theme areas were chosen for the forums in consultation with community partners, based on findings from the research project. The Lived Experiences of Aging Immigrants photo exhibit and short presentations by key community leaders served as a catalyst for discussions at the forums. The discussions at the forums drew on participants’ decades of knowledge and action around various forms of exclusion and precarity experienced by older immigrants. This report summarizes discussions at the forums on four key theme areas: (1) caregiving; (2) social inclusion; (3) housing; and (4) transportation. The purpose of this report is to provide insight into common problems faced by older immigrants in urban areas in Canada and to inform community action and policymaking at municipal and provincial levels of governance.
LEARNING FROM THE LIVED
EXPERIENCES OF AGING IMMIGRANTS:
FINAL REPORT
Report written by: Laura Kadowaki, Julien Simard,
Shari Brotman, Sharon Koehn, Ilyan Ferrer, Émilie
Raymond & Pam Orzeck
MEM PHIS SO LUTIONS201 8 | MAR CH
We would like to thank our funders and organizational partners for their support of
this project. We would also like to thank all the stakeholders who attended our
forums and provided their valuable insights on the issues faced by aging
immigrants in Canada.
PROJECT FUNDERS
1
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
SSHRC Connections Grant
Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research
Centre de recherche et d'expertise en gérontologie sociale (CREGÉS)
This report presents the results of a series of Stakeholder Outreach Forums held over
2018-19 in four regions across Canada – Greater Montréal, Québec City, Calgary, and
Greater Vancouver. The outreach forums provided an opportunity for discussion of issues
faced by aging immigrants in Canada. This project was supported by a SSHRC Connections
Grant. The project was led by Drs. Shari Brotman (McGill University), Sharon Koehn (Simon
Fraser University), Ilyan Ferrer (University of Calgary), Émilie Raymond (Laval University),
and Pam Orzeck (McGill University). Please see appendix 1 for a list of the full project team
members.
The forums built upon a SSHRC Insight Development Grant titled Intersecting Identities and
Interlocking Oppressions, led by Drs. Shari Brotman, Sharon Koehn, and Ilyan Ferrer. This
research resulted in the development of a narrative photovoice exhibit entitled The Lived
Experiences of Aging Immigrants.
Our outreach forums brought together stakeholders from multiple sectors to share
information and strategize about the actions necessary to improve recognition and support
for aging immigrants. Strategic theme areas were chosen for the forums in consultation
with community partners, based on findings from the research project. The Lived
Experiences of Aging Immigrants photo exhibit and short presentations by key community
leaders served as a catalyst for discussions at the forums. The discussions at the forums
drew on participants’ decades of knowledge and action around various forms of exclusion
and precarity experienced by older immigrants. This report summarizes discussions at the
forums on four key theme areas: 1) caregiving; 2) social inclusion; 3) housing; and 4)
transportation.
The purpose of this report is to provide insight into common problems faced by older
immigrants in urban areas in Canada and to inform community action and policymaking at
municipal and provincial levels of governance.
INTRODUCTION
2
Greater Montréal
THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF
AGING IMMIGRANTS (2014-2017)
Following the successful completion of the Intersecting Identities and Interlocking
Oppressions research project, the stories and photographs of participants were showcased
as part of a dynamic photo exhibit entitled The Lived Experiences of Aging Immigrants
available in English and French.
The exhibit contained 19 photovoice stories representing the lived experiences of
immigrant older adults from Korean, Filipino, Latin American, Caribbean, Afghani and
Pakistani communities. The project purposely highlighted stories from immigrant groups
on which very little research has been conducted in Canada.
The exhibit presented older immigrants’ challenges (e.g., trauma, poverty, housing,
discrimination, and family disruptions) as well as their celebrations (e.g., building
community, caring for family, faith, and resilience). The stories and photographs provided
meaningful insights into how past and present experiences, as well as immigration and
labour policies, intersect with health and social relationships. Moreover, the exhibit
illuminated the complex ways that structural discrimination across the life course,
particularly discrimination associated with immigration, shapes older adults’ interactions
with family, community, and formal services.
The project used an intersectionality framework centring on two important concepts: 1)
individual life experiences are shaped by social structures experienced over the life course;
and 2) identity is complex, connected, intersectional and incorporates the multiple social
categories that people belong to (e.g., age, gender, class, race, citizenship, ability, etc.).
3
Greater Montréal
A series of Stakeholder Outreach Forums were held in Greater Montréal (including one
event in Laval), Québec City, Calgary, and Greater Vancouver, focusing on central
themes emerging from our previous research: 1) Caregiving, Family, and Home Care; 2)
Housing and Transportation; and 3) Social Inclusion and Community Engagement. The
sites interpreted these themes in ways that were unique and relevant to their context.
The outreach forums targeted stakeholder groups who were interested or already
engaged in policy, practice, and community development with and about immigrant
older adults, their families, and communities.
Stakeholders were invited to participate in the forums based on their expertise on the
specific forum themes. Efforts were made to ensure stakeholders represented a broad
and diverse range of experiences and perspectives (e.g., municipal services; advocates
and volunteers; older adults; service providers; immigrant serving organizations;
community groups; academics). Participants included both people who already were
working with immigrant older adults and those who had an interest in doing so.
STAKEHOLDER OUTREACH FORUMS
(2018-2019)
4
Greater Vancouver
How can city planners, health authorities, and community services collaborate to meet
the growing needs of our diverse communities?
What lessons can we learn from The Lived Experiences of Aging Immigrants photo
exhibit?
What actions need to take place to address the issues that older immigrants face in
Canada? Who should be responsible for these actions?
How can stakeholders across academic, community, service provision, and policy
arenas collaborate to improve access and equity?
Invited speakers gave short presentations on the forum themes that provided context and
inspiration for the discussions about issues faced by aging immigrants. Forum participants
had the opportunity to view The Lived Experiences of Aging Immigrants photo exhibit and to
reflect on the stories of aging. After viewing the exhibit, attendees participated in a World
Café style forum that sought to further enhance knowledge, collaboration, and the
development of strategies for action. The facilitated discussions at the outreach forums
addressed the following knowledge mobilization questions:
5
Québec City
In Canada, 31% of older Canadians are immigrants (1). Notably, there is significant
heterogeneity in the older immigrant population regarding income, language abilities, and
family and living arrangements. Recent immigrants in particular experience circumstances
that may present challenges later in life (see table 1).
Table 1. Profiles of Immigrant Older Adults Based on Years in Canada
CONTEXT: AGING IMMIGRANTS IN
CANADA
Data adapted from Kei, Seidel, Ma, Houshmand (1)
The four regions in which outreach forums were hosted (Greater Montréal, Québec City,
Calgary, and Greater Vancouver) were strategically chosen to reflect the diversity of both
older adults (65+) and immigration patterns across Canada (see table 2).
6
Calgary
Table 2. Profiles of Populations in Selected Regions
7
The diversity of aging and immigration within these four regions draws attention to regional
variations in populations, public policy, and service delivery across Canada. We believe that
the development of cross-sectoral and cross-regional collaboration, networking, and
information-sharing can result in new and innovative approaches to action. Immigrant
and ethnocultural minority older adults have demonstrated strength and resilience in the
face of many challenges throughout their lives. The process of immigration shapes their
experiences over the life course and into old age. This is true whether they immigrated in
the past as young adults or more recently as older adults, and whether they came to
Canada as independent class immigrants, refugees, temporary workers, live-in caregivers,
or sponsored members of families. Unfortunately, most research on immigration and aging
does not leave room for people to relate what is meaningful to them. Policymakers
and service providers need to grapple with the complexities of providing meaningful
support to older immigrants.
We anticipate that our project will contribute to advocacy efforts directed at better
supporting aging immigrants across Canada. In the following sections we discuss
common challenges immigrant older adults encounter in the four theme areas and offer
some recommendations for addressing these challenges.
Data adapted from Statistics Canada (2)
What We Heard at the Forums
In all three provinces (B.C., Alberta, and Québec) a lack of symbolic and practical support
for carers was reported. Carers are underrecognized and undervalued in society.
Participants at the forums reported on the negative impacts of declining access to formal
services due to service cuts and austerity measures. Within these already challenging
circumstances, immigrant older adults face additional difficulties due to cultural and
familial expectations, language and cultural barriers within formal services, discrimination
within society generally and formal services specifically, including eligibility restrictions,
limited outreach to communities and assumptions about ethnocultural minority and
immigrant groups by service providers, and sponsorship rules which restrict access and
increase burden on families.
Immigrant families are expected to possess the relational, financial, and spatial means
(proximity and enough living space) to care for older parents, thus "naturally" enacting
various cultural forms of filial piety. If a parent is sponsored to come to Canada,
sponsorship rules require that the family commits to providing shelter, financial support,
basic necessities, and health care services not provided by the public system for a period
of 20 years. While in many non-Western cultures caring for aging parents is a cultural norm,
intergenerational conflicts can occur when older and younger generations have different
perspectives on caregiving responsibilities. Older immigrants living with their children may
experience tensions due to their status as dependents and generational gaps in values and
expectations. Research has also shown immigrant older adults who are dependent on
family also are more vulnerable to elder abuse (3).
THEME 1: CAREGIVING
8
In this document we use the term “carers” to refer to people (including
family, friends, and community members) who engage in unpaid and
volunteer care provision and support to older adults. Other commonly used
terms for carers include caregivers, informal carers, and family caregivers.
Many older immigrants are themselves carers for either other older friends and relatives or
grand/children. However, due to immigration they often are disconnected from a
community of support (i.e., close friends, neighbours, community organizations) and may
have difficulties accessing the resources that could support them (e.g., community groups,
social workers, financial benefits, health care). Older immigrants may not be aware of the
services available to them or may not identify as carers.
Health and social care systems are complex and difficult to navigate. Being an older
immigrant adds additional layers to this complexity. Language was an issue frequently
raised at all four sites, as immigrant older adults do not necessarily speak or understand
French or English (especially those who immigrated in later life as sponsored immigrants
or those who had limited access to language instruction across the life course). Racism,
discrimination, and assumptions about ethnocultural minority groups (i.e., they take care of
their own) can hinder the ability of immigrants to access formal services. Stigma also can
be an issue in immigrant communities, and due to cultural and familial expectations
individuals may feel ambivalent about requesting formal services.
Perceptions that older immigrants are a homogenous group – when in fact they are very
heterogenous – mean that services rarely are designed to meet the unique needs of
different immigrant groups. Professionals and providers working within the health and
social care systems often lack the knowledge and skills required to effectively support
immigrant older adults. Participants noted that formal services have not done enough to
adapt their services to meet the needs of older immigrants.
9
Greater Vancouver
Translation and interpretation services: Good communication and shared
understandings are essential for successful interactions between older immigrants,
their carers, and services providers. To address language and cultural barriers, funding
and resources are required to support translation and interpretation services.
Awareness-raising and reducing stigma: Older immigrants and their families need to
be made aware of the formal and community services available for older adults and
their carers. Local community organizations can play a key role in assisting with
outreach and education. Information should be disseminated in clear and easy to
understand language and through culturally appropriate mediums (e.g., ethnic
newspapers, radio programs, community sessions). Education should be provided on
services available and also focus on reducing the stigma of using formal services.
Culturally-safe services and knowledgeable and skilled staff: Employees working in
the health and social care systems should be required to complete training on
providing culturally safe care. Efforts should be made to increase the diversity of staff
working in health and social care systems.
Culturally relevant policies and programs: Formal services (e.g., home care, long-term
care) and community programs should adopt policies that respect the needs of
immigrant older adults. For example, providing culturally appropriate food, inviting
family members to participate in care planning meetings, and providing funding for
interpreters/translators. Government needs to provide sustainable funding for
community-based organizations providing supports to carers.
Recommendations
In order to care for Canada’s aging population, it is clear that greater investments need to
be made into formal community-based, home, and long-term care services for older adults.
In addition, the following are recommendations for improving access to, navigation, and
delivery of health and social services for older immigrants and their carers:
10
What We Heard at the Forums
When immigrants move to Canada, they leave behind their community, family, and friends.
Establishing new social networks can be challenging, particularly later in life. The social
isolation of older immigrants may be reinforced by linguistic isolation (i.e., inability to
speak English or French). While language courses are available, the need to juggle
multiple responsibilities and restrictive rules for some courses (e.g., expelling students for
too many absences) can make learning their new language a challenging task. In the
forums held in the Province of Québec, participants noted that even if immigrants can
speak English, feelings of isolation may occur due to the inability to speak French.
Participants at multiple sites noted that culture shock is a common experience when
immigrants first arrive in Canada, and expectations about life in Canada versus the reality
of life in Canada are often very different. In particular, it was highlighted that difficulties
having their educational/professional credentials recognized and failure to secure
expected employment can contribute to feelings of disappointment and exclusion for
immigrants. Society needs to become more inclusive and welcoming towards
newcomers to Canada. For example, by making it easier to have foreign credentials
recognized, providing increased integration and linguistic supports, and implementing
policies to fight racism and discrimination.
Experiences of ageism, racism, and discrimination within Canadian society can prevent
older immigrants from participating in the community. Immigrant older adults may feel
mistrustful of public institutions due to past experiences (e.g., if they are a refugee or
emigrated from a country with an oppressive government). Organizations and services that
are ill-equipped to meet the needs of immigrants (i.e., inaccessible, non-representative, and
not culturally-safe or relevant) also preclude their participation.
Cultural norms about gender roles in some communities may deter women from
participating socially outside of the home or leave them with little time to do so. Social
participation is difficult for some immigrant older adults due to the fact they are expected
to act as carers for their grandchildren, confining them to the domestic sphere. In some
cases, older immigrants may be required to engage in paid work outside of the home in
order to contribute to their family’s finances.
THEME 2: SOCIAL INCLUSION
11
Low-barrier programming: Programs that are offered in the community should be as
low-barrier as possible to facilitate the participation of immigrant older adults (e.g., free
of charge, take place at easily accessible locations, etc.).
Local community and faith-based organizations that offer culturally and linguistically
relevant programming can play a key role in making immigrant older adults feel included in
society. However, such organizations are not present in all communities and older
immigrants may lack awareness of the organizations and programs available to them.
Community organizations are also often underfunded, which limits their ability to engage
in outreach and offer free programming (4). Transportation plays a key role in connecting
older adults to their community, and as will be described later in the transportation section,
there are multiple mobility barriers that immigrant older adults may encounter.
Income may also be a barrier for the social participation of immigrant older adults. The
costs of public transportation and program fees can be unaffordable for recent immigrants
(particularly those who are sponsored or hold visitor’s or other temporary visas) who are
not eligible to receive Old Age Security and rely on their family for financial support.
Recommendations
Promoting the social inclusion of immigrant older adults within society requires actions
that not only target older immigrants, but promote social inclusion at earlier stages of the
life course. The following are recommendations to promote the social inclusion of
immigrant older adults and eliminate barriers to their social participation:
12
Calgary
Family-based approaches: The incorporation of family into outreach and social
activities acknowledges the important cultural role of family in many immigrant
communities. Immigrant older adults may feel they require the approval of family
members before participating in social activities. Intergenerational programs can
facilitate the participation in programs of older adults who have childcare
responsibilities.
Culturally safe and appropriate provision of information: Information about programs
and activities should be shared using simple language and when possible transmitted
in multiple languages and through both written and alternative mediums. Organizations
should make use of alternative communication mediums (e.g., ethnic-specific TV
channels, radio) as well as community members and community organizations to share
information.
Inclusive spaces and organizations: Institutions and organizations need to take steps
to ensure they are being inclusive of immigrant populations. For example, recognizing
and valuing cultural practices; offering multilingual resources and programming; and
respecting cultural and religious norms. The cultural and linguistic diversity of
organizational staff and boards needs to be increased. Organizations also need to take
time to build bonds of trust with older immigrants through for example friendly visits,
peer support programs, and outreach at places of worship.
Community development and capacity-building: The resilience and abilities of
immigrant communities should be enhanced, and financial support should be provided
to build the capacity of community organizations and older immigrants to engage in
advocacy and be leaders in their communities.
Newcomer support programs: Recent immigrants are particularly vulnerable to social
exclusion, and initiatives to support immigrants should begin upon arrival in Canada.
Programs to develop language skills and enhance systems literacy (knowledge of how
to navigate government systems) should be made available to older immigrants. These
programs should be free of charge, highly flexible in recognition of the challenging
realities older immigrants may face (e.g., financial insecurity, caregiving
responsibilities, poor health), and adapted to meet the learning needs of older
immigrants (i.e., potentially lower literacy and education levels).
13
What We Heard at the Forums
There is a housing crisis in Canada, and in all regions housing was highlighted as an
important issue for immigrant older adults. Factors contributing to the housing crisis
include the gentrification of neighbourhoods, speculation in the private rental sector, and
the lack of social and affordable housing. Waitlists for social housing were noted to be
several years long in Greater Vancouver, Québec City, and Greater Montréal. Immigrant
older adults are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of Canada’s housing crisis. Language
barriers, lower literacy levels, challenges accessing services, financial precarity, and racial
discrimination may act simultaneously as barriers to obtaining safe and affordable
housing.
Navigating the housing market is difficult, particularly as a newcomer or immigrant older
adult. Older immigrants may be unaware of their rights and options for legal recourse
should a landlord discriminate against them, fail to properly maintain the property, or
attempt to evict them. Participants at the forums noted that there are community
organizations offering supports to immigrants to navigate the housing market; however,
these organizations are underfunded, overworked, and not necessarily inclusive of
older immigrants.
Racism, discrimination, and higher rates of poverty often push older immigrants and their
families into secondary housing markets, where prices can be high but dwellings poorly
maintained. Low quality and poorly maintained dwellings can be deleterious to an
individual’s health. Overcrowding is another common problem, particularly if there are
multiple generations living in the same household. Additionally, housing is usually
inaccessible to older adults with disabilities. While purpose-built seniors housing and care
facilities do exist, older immigrants may be reluctant to move into these buildings if they do
not meet their cultural needs (e.g., do not serve food they are used to, staff do not speak
their language, far from their community). It was noted at the Greater Montréal forums that
some community organizations wish to develop culturally appropriate seniors housing;
however, bureaucracy and red tape at the municipal and provincial levels mean new
projects are difficult to initiate and take a long time to progress.
THEME 3: HOUSING
14
Immigrant older adults who arrive in Canada as sponsored immigrants usually live in
multigenerational households. While there are many benefits of multigenerational living,
dependency on family can create tensions within the family that can produce conditions for
victimization or neglect. Recent immigrants may not be eligible for Old Age Security if they
have been living in Canada for less than 10 years (5), and sponsored immigrants are further
hampered by their Undertaking of Assistance. Undertaking of Assistance requires the
sponsors financially support their parent or grandparent for 20 years, during which the
sponsored immigrant is ineligible for government income transfers, subsidized housing,
and housing benefits (6), (7), (8). Therefore, recent and sponsored immigrants have few
options if they desire more independence in life or their relationship with their family is
conflictual.
15
Greater Montréal
Increasing housing stock: Government urgently needs to increase its investments in
social housing. This should include the development of larger units suitable for housing
multigenerational families and accessible units suitable for people with disabilities.
Housing policy and legislation: Government policies should promote the development
of affordable, accessible, and appropriate housing units for low-income older adults.
For example, policies can be implemented requiring that a certain percentage of units
in new developments are affordable housing.
Innovative housing models: Development of ethnocultural-specific housing (including
long-term care facilities) and multigenerational housing were recurrent demands from
community groups. Government needs to be more accommodating and willing to work
with communities that wish to develop innovative housing models, including
ethnocultural-specific seniors’ residences and multigenerational housing models.
Support community programs: More financial support needs to be provided for
community programs that support immigrant older adults to navigate the housing
system (e.g., translation and interpretation services, housing navigation, legal support).
Financial supports for immigrant older adults: Many of the housing challenges
experienced by older immigrants are intimately tied to financial precarity and economic
dependency in later life. Government should reconsider current eligibility requirements
for Old Age Security and rental assistance programs that exclude sponsored and/or
recent immigrants.
Recommended Actions
Metropolitan centres in Canada have experienced a crisis in housing affordability over the
past decade, and a broad range of multilevel and multisectoral interventions are required to
address the problem. The following are recommendations to improve access to affordable,
accessible, and appropriate housing for immigrant older adults:
16
What We Heard at the Forums
Transportation is essential to the lives of older adults and keeps them connected to their
community and family. The accessibility and quality of public transportation services is
particularly salient for immigrant older adults, as many do not drive, particularly if they
arrived in Canada later in life.
Navigating the public transportation system can be difficult for immigrant older adults,
particularly if they are living with a disability. There is a lack of public transportation
education and outreach for older immigrants who are new transit users. Furthermore,
accessible transportation services generally do not meet the needs of older immigrants.
Lack of quality transportation services in some areas hinders the social and civic
participation of older immigrants. Important locations within a city (e.g., grocery store,
place of worship, community centre) may be inaccessible due to lengthy and challenging
commutes on public transportation or lack of public transportation routes altogether.
Communities and built environments (e.g., sidewalks, housing, shops) are often poorly
adapted to meet the needs of older immigrants, particularly those living with a disability.
Suburban areas often lack access to resources and services (community organizations,
health care institutions, social housing, shops). In Greater Montréal and Greater Vancouver,
gentrification has begun forcing older immigrants outside of traditional neighborhoods in
the urban core where immigrant communities have developed for decades (e.g., Parc-
Extension in Montréal). As a result, older immigrants are disconnected from the
communities that provide them with a sense of familiarity and belonging, and may have to
travel long distances to access culturally safe and relevant services (e.g., religious
institutions, shops, etc.). Gentrification also affects the commercial presence in a
neighborhood, with mom-and-pop shops and small businesses no longer being able to
afford rent. New businesses that enter these neighbourhoods are usually oriented towards
a more affluent customer base.
THEME 4: TRANSPORTATION
17
Transportation routes: When planning public transportation improvements local
communities should be consulted about routes. Steps should be taken to ensure
important community sites are easily accessible (e.g., places of worship, community
centres) and suburban and newly developed areas are serviced. Consideration should
also be given to developing senior-specific bus services that travel to locations
frequented by older adults (e.g., seniors housing, senior centre, grocery store).
Education and outreach for new transit riders: Outreach sessions and education can
be used to increase the awareness and comfort of older immigrants with using public
transportation. Educational materials and sessions should be available in multiple
languages.
User-friendliness of service: The user-friendliness of public transportation services for
older adults (e.g., signage, safety, accessibility for mobility device users) should be
evaluated. This should include evaluation of needs specific to immigrant older adults
(e.g., signage in multiple languages).
Affordability: Free or highly subsidized transit passes should be provided to all older
adults, including immigrant older adults.
Financial precarity can add another layer of complexity to the accessibility of urban
environments for older immigrants. Many immigrant older adults have limited incomes and
may rely solely on family for financial support. Participants at the forums noted that bus
passes may be difficult to obtain for older immigrants due to administrative and financial
reasons. In both Greater Vancouver and Greater Montréal groups have been advocating for
the provision of free bus passes for older adults.
Recommended Actions
Broadly, within society greater investments need to be made into developing public
transportation systems and moving away from our current car-dominated culture.
Government at all levels must increase their support for public transportation systems. The
following are recommendations to increase the accessibility and affordability of public
transportation services for immigrant older adults:
18
Québec City
Based on the findings of the stakeholder outreach forums held in Greater Montréal, Québec
City, Calgary, and Greater Vancouver, common challenges experienced by immigrant older
adults in the four theme areas were identified. It is important to note that many of the
challenges encountered by immigrant older adults are crosscutting and the result of larger
structural factors that need to be addressed within society. This report elucidates some of
the key structural factors contributing to the challenges experienced by immigrant
older adults: linguistic and cultural barriers; experiences of racism and discrimination over
the life course; rigid labour, financial, and immigration policies; and systems that are
inflexible and poorly designed to meet the needs of immigrant older adults.
While some recommendations for action have been made in this report, long-term,
intersectoral collaboration is required to fully address the challenges experienced by older
immigrants. We believe that this project has provided useful insights for policymakers,
service providers, and advocates and will serve as a springboard for the larger discussions
that are needed on issues faced by aging immigrants in Canada.
CONCLUSION
19
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REFERENCES
20
APPENDIX 1. PROJECT TEAM
21
Shar i Brotman (M cGill Univer sity)
Juli en Simard (M cGill Univer sity)
Pasc ual Delgado (Alliance de s
comm unautés cult urelles pour l'égalité
dans la santé et les service sociaux -
AC SSS)
Pasc ual Delgado (ACCÉSSS)
Raph aël Massé (T able de conc ertation
des aînés de l le de Mont al - TCAIM)
Va rie Lemieux (Direction r égionale de
sant é publique d e Montréal - DRSP,
CIUS SS du Centre -Sud-de-l'Îl e-de-
Mont réal)
Maze n Houdeib (R egroupement des
orga nismes du Mo ntréal ethni que pour le
loge ment ROMEL )
Caro le Charvet ( Carrefour d' intercultures
de L aval)
Laur a Tellalian (Hay Doun)
Zeld a Freitas (C entre de rec herche et
d'ex pertise en g érontologie sociale -
CREG ÉS, CIUSSS d u Centre-Ouest-de-
l'îl e-de-Montréa l)
GREATER MONTRÉAL
ORGANIZERS
PARTNERS
MAIN P R O J E C T PAR T N E R
HOUS I N G F O R UM PA R T N E R S
SOCI A L I N C L USION F O R U M PARTN E R S
CARE G I V I N G FORUM P A R T N ERS
Mari e-Ève Samson (Universi de
Mont réal)
Pam Orzeck (McGi ll Universit y)
Raph aël Massé (T CAIM)
Va rie Lemieux (DRSP, CIUSS S du
Cent re-Sud-de-l' Île-de-Montr éal)
Zeld a Freitas (C REGÉS)
Deni s Dubé (McGi ll Universit y)
Ash Lowenthal (M cGill Univer sity)
Juli en Simard (M cGill Univer sity)
Pasc ual Delgado (ACCÉSSS)
Juli e Bruneau (U QAM)
Yani na Chukhovic h (McGill Un iversity)
Deni s Dubé (McGi ll Universit y)
Iman e El Mahi (T CAIM)
Chid inma Ihejiri ka (McGill U niversity)
Gabr ielle Jacobs (McGill Uni versity)
Ash Lowenthal (M cGill Univer sity)
Shu Luo (Univers ité de Montr éal)
Nina Meango (Uni versité de M ontréal)
Khar oll-Ann Souf frant (McGil l University)
Adin a Ungereanu (ACCÉSSS)
Tama r Wolofsky ( McGill Unive rsity)
Shar i Brotman (M cGill Univer sity)
Juli en Simard (M cGill Univer sity)
FACILITATORS
NOTETAKERS
SITE REPORTS
22
Shar on Koehn (Si mon Fraser U niversity)
Laur a Kadowaki ( Simon Fraser
Univ ersity)
Kris ta James (Ca nadian Centr e for Elder
Law - CCEL)
Kahi r Lalji (Uni ted Way of t he Lower
Main land)
Alex is Haig (Sim on Fraser Un iversity)
Joe Humphries (S imon Fraser University)
Emil y Lonsdale ( Simon Fraser University)
Eire ann O'Dea (S imon Fraser University)
Andr ea Sara (Sim on Fraser Un iversity)
Shar on Koehn (Si mon Fraser U niversity)
Laur a Kadowaki ( Simon Fraser
Univ ersity)
Emil y Lonsdale ( Simon Fraser University)
GREATER VANCOUVER
ORGANIZERS
PARTNERS
HOUS I N G F O R UM PA R T N E R
SOCI A L I N C L USION & C A R E GIVIN G F O R U MS
PART N E R
FACILITATORS & NOTETAKERS
SITE REPORTS
Ilya n Ferrer (Un iversity of Calgary)
Mari bel Javier ( ActionDignit y)
Mari chu Antonio (ActionDigni ty)
Josh Dalledonne (Arts Commons)
Lali ta Singh (No rth of McKni ght
Comm unities Soci ety)
Mae Chavez (Univ ersity of Ca lgary)
Edwi n Chavez (Un iversity of Calgary)
Gabr iel Abes (Un iversity of Calgary)
Ange lo Bodoso (U niversity of Calgary)
Ilya n Ferrer (Un iversity of Calgary)
Edwi n Chavez (Un iversity of Calgary)
CALGARY
ORGANIZERS
PARTNERS
ELDE R A B U S E & CO M M U N I T Y ENGA G E M E N T
FORU M P A R T N ERS
FACILITATORS
NOTETAKERS
SITE REPORTS
Émil ie Raymond ( Université L aval)
Alfr edo Ramirez- Villagra (Un iversité
Lava l, CIUSSS de la Capitale -Nationale)
Méla nie Lantagne Lopez (Cent re
inte rdisciplinai re de recher che en
réad aptation et intégration sociale -
CIRR IS, CIUSSS d e la Capital e-Nationale)
Mire ille Fortier (Institut s ur le
viei llissement e t la partici pation sociale
des aînés de l'U niversité La val - IVPSA)
Anni e Vézina (IV PSA)
Lise Cardinal (D irection de santé
publ ique, CIUSSS de la Capit ale-
Nati onale)
Gene viève Doray (Direction d e santé
publ ique, CIUSSS de la Capit ale-
Nati onale)
Mire ille Fortier (IVPSA)
Méla nie Lantagne Lopez (CIRR IS, CIUSSS
de l a Capitale-N ationale)
Alex andra Paradi s (Direction de santé
publ ique, CIUSSS de la Capit ale-
Nati onale)
Anne -Marie Simar d (IVPSA)
Anni e Vézina (IV PSA)
Elia ne Begnanhi (Université Laval)
Anik Bilodeau (U niversité La val)
Alai n Dessi (Uni versité Lava l)
Nath alie Hébert (Université Laval)
Fréd érique Rives t (Universit é Laval)
Emil y Lonsdale ( Simon Fraser University)
QUÉBEC CITY
ORGANIZERS
FACILITATORS
NOTETAKERS
23
Émil ie Raymond ( Université L aval)
Alfr edo Ramirez- Villagra (Un iversité
Lava l)
Méla nie Lantagne Lopez (CIRR IS, CIUSSS
de l a Capitale-N ationale)
SITE REPORTS
Brotman S, Ferrer I, Koehn S, Delgado P. L’Isolement sociale chez les immigrants âgés: Une
question des droits. Revue de La Ligue Des Droits et Liberté. 2019; 38(1(Printemps)), 37–40.
https://liguedesdroits.ca/lisolement-social-chez-les-immigrant-e-s-ages-au-canada-
unequestion-de-droits-de-la-personne/
Brotman S, Ferrer I, Koehn S. Situating the life story narratives of aging immigrants within a
structural context: the intersectional life course perspective as research praxis. Qual Res.
2020;20(4):465-484. doi:10.1177/1468794119880746
Ferrer I, Grenier A, Brotman S, Koehn S. Understanding the experiences of racialized older
people through an intersectional life course perspective. J Aging Stud. 2017;41:10-17.
doi:10.1016/j.jaging.2017.02.001
Koehn S, Ferrer I, Brotman S. Between loneliness and belonging: Narratives of social
isolation among immigrant older adults in Canada. Ageing Soc. 2020;1–21. https://doi.org/
10.1017/S0144686X20001348
APPENDIX 2. PROJECT PUBLICATIONS
24
CONTACTS
Dr. Shari Brotman: shari.brotman@mcgill.ca
Dr. Sharon Koehn: skoehn@sfu.ca
Dr. Ilyan Ferrer: ilyan.ferrer@ucalgary.ca
Dr. Émilie Raymond: Emilie.Raymond@tsc.ulaval.ca
WEBSITE
English: www.creges.ca/en/immigrant-older-adults
French: www.creges.ca/personnes-agees-immigrantes
Greater Montréal
Greater Vancouver
Calgary
Québec City
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any citations for this publication.
Article
Full-text available
Our work suggests that older immigrants have rights to social participation and inclusion that are undermined by policy across the life course. These dynamics can contribute to economic precarity, housing instability, and family disruption to name a few impacts - all which influence social isolation. However, older immigrants also demonstrate resilience and resistance to the systemic barriers faced throughout the life course. (in French)
Article
Research points to a higher risk for social isolation and loneliness among new immigrant and refugee older adults. Our article draws from a research project that explored the everyday stories of ageing among 19 diverse immigrant older adults in Canada. To capture their experiences of loneliness and social isolation, we use four illustrative cases derived from a structural approach to life-story narrative. To these we apply the intersectional lifecourse analytical lens to examine how life events, timing and structural forces shape our partici-pants' experiences of social isolation and loneliness. We further explore the global and linked lives of our participants as well as the categories of difference that influence their experiences along the continua of loneliness to belonging, isolation to connection. Finally, we discuss how an understanding of sources of domination and expressions of agency and resistance to these forces might lead us to solutions.
Article
Research on racialized older immigrants does not fully acknowledge the interplay between the life course experiences of diverse populations and the structural conditions that shape these experiences. Our research team has developed the intersectional life course perspective to enhance researchers’ capacity to take account of the cumulative effects of structural discrimination as people experience it throughout the life course, the meanings that people attribute to those experiences, and the implications these have on later life. Here we propose an innovative methodological approach that combines life story narrative and photovoice methods in order to operationalize the intersectional life course. We piloted this approach in a study of the everyday stories of aging among diverse immigrant older adults in two distinct Canadian provinces with the goals of enhancing capacity to account for both context and story and engaging with participants and stakeholders from multiple sectors in order to influence change.
Article
**Up to 50 e-prints of this article are available from https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/6VN8VISWHEZCIZXKQ9GY/full?target=10.1080/13557858.2019.1655529** Objectives: This paper explores the role of immigrant-serving agencies in facilitating access to dementia services and supports provided by dementia service agencies (particularly the health authority and local chapters of the Alzheimer Society) through their propensity to develop trusting relationships between staff and clients. Design: Our research is a qualitative case study of Punjabi and Korean speakers living in the Lower Mainland of BC, Canada. Data are drawn from interviews with 15 dyads of persons with dementia and their family caregivers (10 Punjabi, 5 Korean), six focus groups (one focus group with each of 8–10 older men, older women, and mixed gender working age adults in each community). We also interviewed 20 managerial and frontline staff of dementia service agencies, i.e. the health authority and the local Alzheimer Society (n = 11) and two immigrant-serving agencies (n = 9), each dedicated to either Punjabi or Korean-speaking clients. We adopted the Candidacy framework for understanding access to dementia services and supports and the concept of trust as guiding precepts in this study. Results: Families of persons with dementia are pivotal to identification of a problem requiring professional help, navigation to appropriate services and acceptance of services offered. However, trust in family members should not be taken for granted, since family dynamics are complex. Alternative sources of trusted support are therefore needed. Immigrant-serving agencies are more often instrumental in establishing trusted relationships between their staff and clients, but they often lack detailed knowledge about heath conditions, their treatment and management, and they lack power to implement statutory care. Conclusions: Partnerships between mainstream mental health/dementia services and the community sector have proven successful in increasing the accessibility of specialized resources while maximizing their combined trustworthiness, accessibility and effectiveness. Such partnerships should become fundamental components of health service strategy and provision for vulnerable and underserved immigrant older adults.
Article
This article proposes the development of an intersectional life course perspective that is capable of exploring the links between structural inequalities and the lived experience of aging among racialized older people. Merging key concepts from intersectionality and life course perspectives, the authors suggest an analytic approach to better account for the connections between individual narratives and systems of domination that impinge upon the everyday lives of racialized older people. Our proposed intersectional life course perspective includes four dimensions: 1) identifying key events and their timing, 2) examining locally and globally linked lives, 3) exploring categories of difference and how they shape identities, 4) and assessing how processes of differentiation, and systems of domination shape the lives, agency and resistance among older people. Although applicable to various forms of marginalization, we examine the interplay of racialization, immigration, labour and care in later life to highlight relationships between systems, events, trajectories, and linked lives. The illustrative case example used in this paper emerged from a larger critical ethnographic study of aging in the Filipino community in Montreal, Canada. We suggest that an intersectional life course perspective has the potential to facilitate a deeper understanding of the nexus of structural, personal and relational processes that are experienced by diverse groups of older people across the life course and into late life.
Results from the 2016 Census: Examining the effect of public pension benefits on the low income of senior immigrants
  • W Kei
  • M-D Seidel
  • D Ma
  • M Houshmand
  • A Matsuoka
  • S Guruge
  • S Koehn
  • M Beaulieu
  • J Ploeg
Kei W, Seidel M-D, Ma D, Houshmand M. Results from the 2016 Census: Examining the effect of public pension benefits on the low income of senior immigrants. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/75-006-x/2019001/article/00017-eng.htm. Published December 2019. Accessed October 16, 2020. Statistics Canada. Focus on Geography Series, 2016 Census. https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/as-sa/fogs-spg/Indexeng.cfm. Published January 2018. Accessed October 16, 2020. Matsuoka A, Guruge S, Koehn S, Beaulieu M, Ploeg J. Prevention of abuse of older women in the post-migration context in Canada. Can Rev Soc Pol. 2013; (68/69), 107-120.
Promises: Cultural and Legal Dimensions of Sponsorship for Immigrant Seniors
  • S Koehn
  • C Spencer
  • E Hwang
  • Promises
Koehn S, Spencer C, Hwang E. Promises, Promises: Cultural and Legal Dimensions of Sponsorship for Immigrant Seniors. In: Durst D, MacLean M, eds. Diversity and Aging among Immigrant Seniors in Canada: Changing Faces and Greying Temples. Calgary, AB: Detselig Enterprises Ltd.; 2010:79-102.
We Are Not All the Same: Key Law, Policy and Practice Strategies for Improving the Lives of Older Women in the Lower Mainland
  • S Carstairs
  • J Keon
Carstairs S, Keon J. Special Senate Committee on Aging. Final Report: Canada's Aging Population: Seizing the Opportunity. Ottawa, ON: The Senate; 2009. http://www.parl.gc.ca/content/sen/committee/402/agei/rep/agingfinalreport-e.pdf. CCEL. We Are Not All the Same: Key Law, Policy and Practice Strategies for Improving the Lives of Older Women in the Lower Mainland. Vancouver, BC: CCEL; 2017. http://www.bcli.org/wordpress/wpcontent/uploads/2017/03/Older_Women_Dialogue_