JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Older adults are the fastest growing age group worldwide and in Canada. Immigrants represent a significant proportion of older Canadians. Social isolation is common among older adults and has many negative consequences including limiting community and civic participation, increasing income insecurity, and increasing the risk of elder abuse. Additional factors such as the social, cultural, and economic changes that accompany migration, language differences, racism, and ageism, heighten older immigrants' vulnerability to social isolation.

Objective:

This multi-methods, sequential (qualitative – quantitative) study seeks to clarify older immigrants' social needs, networks and support, and how these shape their capacity, resilience, and independence in aging well in Ontario.

Methods:

Theoretically, our research is informed by an intersectionality perspective and an ecological model, allowing us to critically examine the complexity surrounding multiple dimensions of social identity (e.g., gender, immigration) and how these interrelate at the micro (individual, family), meso (community), and macro (societal) levels in diverse geographical settings. Methodologically, the project is guided by a collaborative, community-based, mixed-methods approach to engaging a range of stakeholders in Toronto, Ottawa, Waterloo, and London, in generating knowledge. The four settings were strategically chosen for their diversity in level of urbanization, size of community, and the number of immigrants and immigrant serving organizations. Interviews will be conducted in Arabic, Mandarin and Spanish with older women, older men, family members, community leaders, and service providers. The study protocol has received ethics approval from the four participating universities.

Results:

Comparative analyses of qualitative and quantitative data within and across sites will provide insights about common and unique factors that contribute to the wellbeing of older immigrants in different regions of Ontario.

Conclusions:

Given the comprehensive approach to incorporating local knowledge and expert contributions from multi-level stakeholders, the empirical and theoretical findings will be highly relevant to our community partners, help facilitate practice change, and improve the wellbeing of older men and women in immigrant communities.