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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Anahi Viladrich, PhD, MA¹, Marianne Fahs, PhD, MPH², and Nina S. Parikh, PhD, MPH². (1) School of Health Sciences, Urban Public Health Program, Hunter College of the City University of New York, 425 E 25th Street, W 10021, New York, NY 10010, (212) 481-5154, aviladri@hunter.cuny.edu, (2) Brookdale Center on Aging, Hunter College of the City University of New York, 425 East 25th Street, 13th Floor North, New York, NY NY

Elderly immigrants are among the fastest growing population groups in the US. Yet strikingly little is known regarding their health status, access and utilization. Elderly newcomers remain almost invisible in the US, and the “healthy migrant” hypothesis perpetuates a myth that it is only the healthy young who migrate. Only recently has the literature recognized the “late-in-life” migrant. Studies are beginning to suggest immigrant elders face “multiple jeopardies” in terms of social isolation, lack of English skills and low educational attainment, as well as limited social and economic resources. In addition immigrants are aging in place. Indeed, cross-sectional national data show a positive association between length of residence in the US and increased health risks among immigrants. However, a paucity of research exists regarding determinants of healthy aging among immigrants. This study reviews current hypotheses and myths concerning elderly immigrants, such as the “myth of return”. We present empirical findings from the literature, as well as from an ongoing NCI-sponsored study of Chinese immigrants over time. For instance, contrary to the prevailing hypothesis that acculturation causes worsening health, we find instead that the prevalence of smoking among older acculturated Chinese immigrants is significantly less than among older nonacculturated Chinese immigrants (14% vs. 12%, p<.05). A new conceptual framework is proposed, derived from the emerging fields of urban public health and the built environment, to describe how, and at what points, neighborhood physical and social environments influence health among the urban elderly immigrant population. Using the framework, policy implications are discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• To examine the current myths and realities concerning elderly immigrants in the US.
• To analyze the effects of the physical and the social environment on the life trajectories of immigrant elders.
• To develop a conceptual model of the determinants of healthy aging among immigrants in the US.

Keywords: Aging, Immigrants

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation