Asians Nidhi Khosla Assistant Professor, California State - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Social Isolation among Older South Asians

Nidhi Khosla Assistant Professor, California State University, East Bay

Aging Minorities in the US

20 percent of the U.S. population will be older than 65 by 2050 (Dying in America, 2014) 20% of older adults are racial or ethnic minorities (Johnson, K.S. 2013) By 2035, growth in the proportion of minority older adults will substantially outpace that of Non-Hispanic whites (Johnson, K.S. 2013)

South Asians in the US

• Individuals with origins in India,

Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Maldives

• Approximately 3.8 million, 80%

growth rate over 2000-2010

• Over 75% South Asians are

foreign-born

• >80% of US South Asians are of

Indian origin

South Asians in the US contd…

• During 50 years before 1965 quota restrictions

limited Asian entry to 100 immigrants

• After 1965, change in Immigration and

Naturalization Act led to entry of young, highly educated Asian immigrants who are now at the retirement age

• 1980s and 1990s, family reunification led to

entry of older Asian immigrants

Diversity among South Asians

Limited English Proficiency

5

Cultural Similarities Hindi Urdu Bangla >28 other languages Hinduism Buddhism Islam

Social Isolation

• Social isolation results from fewer social contacts or meaningful

relationships than are desired by the person

• South Asians are at risk for social isolation due to language barriers,

small social networks, and cultural differences

• Age-related health issues, and poverty may worsen problems in

participation in social and cultural life

• Filial expectations of care may not be met
• Living in multigenerational households may cause conflict and

worsen loneliness

• 37% elders living with family reported loneliness, in a Canadian

study

Cultural Nuances affecting Social Isolation

• South Asian elderly grew up in collectivistic societies

where family loyalty and frequent gatherings to celebrate festivals, marriages, births and deaths were important

• Older age associated with wisdom, decision-making

power and wealth

• Living in the US can lead to role reversal as younger

members teach the elders mainstream cultural mores, language and day-to-day matters

Needs of Older South Asians

• Transportation to cultural centers & visit friends, among
• thers
• Healthcare especially dental and eye care
• Housing

– Ethno-specific care homes with traditional food, caregivers conversant with languages and culture – Culturally-sensitive home care services to enable living at home

• Faith-based or cultural groups for socializing and information

provision

• Confidential services to help with elder abuse

Research/Practice Agenda

• Investigate South Asians’ experiences of loneliness and

isolation and develop programs to address these

• Expanding data collection to modalities such as vignettes

to collect data on sensitive subjects

• Building capacity of local community based organizations

to serve South Asians’ needs

• Promote access to education and information within the

South Asian community

Thank You!