Housing and Health Transitions among Older Chinese and Koreans in BC

1. Housing and Health Transitions among Older Chinese and Koreans in BC Eunju Hwang, PhD, SFU Gloria Gutman, PhD, SFU Habib Chaudhury, PhD, SFU Thomas Tam, MS, SUCCESS Tim Choi, MA, SUCCESS Andrew Wister, PhD, SFU Zheng Wu, PhD, UVic The 17th John K. Friesen Conference, June 8, 2007 This project is supported by the BC Network for Aging Research.

2. BACKGROUND Demographic Trends Immigrants by period of immigration—world regions of birth, Canada, 2001 (percentage distribution) Source: CIC (2006). Recent immigrants in metropolitan areas Gerontology Research Centre and Program

3. What’s New in BC? Source: Statistics Canada. 2001 Census. Gerontology Research Centre and Program

4. BC had the highest proportion of visible minorities, representing 21.6% of its population, followed by Ontario (19.1%). • Toronto is the residence for a large share of East Asians, but a more strong preference is found among recent immigrants from South Asia and from the Caribbean. • Montreal is a preferred destination of recent immigrants from Western Asia and Middle East, Africa, Western Europe, Latin America and the Carribean. • In Vancouver, more than 1 in 3 recently immigrated East Asians are living. • In some suburbs, such as Richmond, Surrey, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody, the increase of Chinese and Koreans has been salient. Source: CIC (2006). Recent immigrants in metropolitan areas Gerontology Research Centre and Program

5. Emerging Suburbs • Richmond Of Richmond’s total population, 54% are immigrants. Of Richmond’s total population, 15% were born in Hong Kong, 10% were born in China and 5% in Taiwan. #s based on Statistics Canada. 2001 Census. Gerontology Research Centre and Program

6. Emerging Suburbs • Tri-Cities Of Coquitlam’s total population, over 37% are immigrants. Over half of these immigrants arrived during the past 10 years. Among the top 10 source countries of immigrants to the TC include Taiwan, Korea, Hong Kong, China, Iran and Philippines. Koreans are the main clients of ISS Settlement programs. Out of 22,635 Koreans in BC, over 92% are in Coquitlam, Surrey and Burnaby. #s based on Statistics Canada. 2001 Census. Gerontology Research Centre and Program

7. WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT ETHNIC MINORITY SENIORS? “There has not been a lot of research done in Canada on aging and ethnicity. … More research on this population is required, as is new knowledge about the impact of ethnicity on the aging process, and its implications for health and well-being, the particular needs of ethnic minority seniors and the development of appropriate responses to these needs.” Source: National Advisory Council on Aging (Canada) (2005). Seniors on the margins: Seniors from ethnocultural minorities. Ottawa. Gerontology Research Centre and Program

8. Working with Ethno-Cultural Community Outreach • Target groups: Chinese & Korean seniors • Outreach thru: Community organizations • Purpose: Development of appropriate responses to these needs • Purpose: To address community needs • Level of analysis: Family/community/city • Research design: Evidence-based research • Analysis: Cross-cultural matrix Research • Dissemination: Different strategies 1) To advocate underserved ethnic minority elders and 2) to work w/ policy makers, community planners and service organizations • Expected outcomes: Development of appropriate responses to these needs Education Gerontology Research Centre and Program

9. OUTREACHEmerging Communities Korean • Growing fast • Korean immigrants to Canada surpassed those who immigrated to the US • Top source of economic immigrants • Popular settlement area: Burnaby & Coquitlam • 65+: 4.6% of the Korean-Canadian • New Vista Housing Chinese • Major source of immigration • Top source of economic immigrants • Popular settlement area: Richmond • 65+: 9.9% of the Chinese-Canadian • Senior housing development in Chinatown Gerontology Research Centre and Program

10. Community Partners Chinese Community thru SUCCESS Gerontology Research Centre and Program

11. Korean Senior Citizens Soc of Greater VancouverNew Vista Soc Gerontology Research Centre and Program

12. RESEARCH BCNAR Pilot Project • Title: Housing and Health Transition among • Older Chinese and Koreans in BC • Research Questions: • 1. What are the demographic, housing, and • neighborhood characteristics of older Chinese • and Koreans? • 2. Does the location of current housing adjacent to • ethnic business districts affect the older Chinese • and Koreans’ ability to stay in current housing?

13. Methodology • Resident survey (30 qs) Housing choice Neighborhood/community characteristics Socio-cultural characteristics Demographics • Focus groups Semi-structured Gerontology Research Centre and Program

14. Methodology: • Chinese Resident survey 24 in Van Chinatown 26 in Van GVRD Focus group 8 participants • Korean Resident survey 22 Close to Koreatown 27 in Van GVRD Focus group 8 participants Analysis: Frequency, Chi-square, & t-test Gerontology Research Centre and Program

15. Demographic Characteristics of the Survey Participants • Age : 72 (ranged from 53 to 87) • Duration at Canada: 15 years (ranged from 1 to 39) • Health status: Good • Employment status: Retired • Education level: High school graduate • Primary source of household income: Government pension • Annual household income level: $20,001-25,000 Housing Characteristics of the Survey Participants • Duration at current housing: 9.5 years • Type of current housing: Highrises • Tenure of current housing: Renter • People lived with before current housing: Children • Place lived before current housing: BC #s based on median values Gerontology Research Centre and Program

16. Results: Chinese vs Korean Chinese seniors are more likely than Korean seniors to • have lived longer at current housing, • live in various types of housing, • move to current housing because their adult children already lived in the residence, • use/visit community centers, ethnic groceries, banks, convenient stores, parks, gyms, doctor’s office, and library, and • be married. Chinese seniors are less likely than Korean seniors to • think that accessibility of services and amenities is important, • think that proximity to their church is important, • think that the view from their current housing is important, • identify themselves as Canadian, • think that having family and relatives close by for living in Canada is important, • think that having friends from the same culture is important, • think that feeling welcome in Canada is important, • think that having Canadian-born friends for living in Canada is important, and • visit their country of birth frequently. Gerontology Research Centre and Program

17. Results: Within the Chinese group Chinese seniors in Chinatown are more likely than Chinese seniors living elsewhere to • rent their current housing, • think safety and security is important, • think proximity to family or friends is important, • think knowing English for living in Canada is important, & • have government pension as their primary income source. Chinese seniors in Chinatown are less likely than Chinese seniors living other than Chinatown to be healthy. Gerontology Research Centre and Program

18. Results: Within the Korean group Korean seniors living close to Koreatown are more likely than Korean seniors living elsewhere to • live in highrises, • think proximity to family or friends is important, • feel a sense of belonging to their neighborhood, • have neighbors from Korea, • have access to bus/skytrain and grocery stores, • think having Canadian-born friends for living in Canada is important, • be older, • live alone or live with a spouse, and • be satisfied with their lives. Korean seniors living close to Koreatown are less likely than Korean seniors living elsewhere to • visit Korea, • be educated, and • move out in the next 3 years. Gerontology Research Centre and Program

19. Results: Move vs Stay Q. Who’s going to move out in the next 3 years? • Those who • think accessibility of services and amenities is important in choosing housing/location, • think proximity to one’s own ethnic community is important, • think quality of the neighborhood is important, • think safety and security is important, • think knowing English for living in Canada is important,and • are less satisfied with living where they’re. Gerontology Research Centre and Program

20. Implications: Chinese Seniors Elsewhere • Active • Utilization of Chinese community centers ? Service coordination ? Quality of neighborhood Chinatown • Aging-in-place • Less healthier • Relied on government pension • Safety and security issues at the neighborhood level ? Affordable housing w/ income subsidies ? Health promotion ? How to create safer environment? Gerontology Research Centre and Program

21. Implications: Korean Seniors Close to Koreatown • Aging-in-place • More involved with community resources • Utilization of available community resources ? How to get access to community resources? ? On-site service programs Elsewhere • Isolation/family conflicts • Satisfaction • To move or not to move? ? What housing options are available? ? How to develop community resources? Gerontology Research Centre and Program

22. EDUCATION Working with the Community Partners • Korean community Korean seniors’ program at New Vista Community planning’s role in social cohesion in Burnaby/Coquitlam • Chinese community Chinatown senior housing evaluation Medical Outcomes SF-36 Gerontology Research Centre and Program

23. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT • This pilot project was funded in part by a grant from the BC Network for Aging Research, one of 8 population health networks supported by the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research. • Additional support was provided by Simon Fraser University Gerontology Research Centre and SUCCESS. To request power point materials, email Dr. Hwang at eunjuh@sfu.ca. Gerontology Research Centre and Program