GRC 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 17 th John K. Friesen Conference, June 8, 2007 This project is supported by the BC Network for Aging Research.

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

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

GRC 4Gerontology Research Centre and Program 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

GRC 5Gerontology Research Centre and Program 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 Census.

GRC 6Gerontology Research Centre and Program 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 Census.

GRC 7Gerontology Research Centre and Program “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. WHAT DO WE KNOW A BOUT ETHNIC MINORITY SENIORS?

GRC 8Gerontology Research Centre and Program Working with Ethno-Cultural Community Target groups: Chinese & Korean seniors Outreach thru: Community organizations Purpose: Development of appropriate responses to these needs Education Research Outreach Purpose: To address community needs Level of analysis: Family/community/city Research design: Evidence-based research Analysis: Cross-cultural matrix 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

GRC 9Gerontology Research Centre and Program 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 OUTREACH Emerging 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

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

GRC 11Gerontology Research Centre and Program Korean Senior Citizens Soc of Greater Vancouver New Vista Soc

GRC 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?

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

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

GRC 15Gerontology Research Centre and Program 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

GRC 16Gerontology Research Centre and Program 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. Results: Chinese vs Korean

GRC 17Gerontology Research Centre and Program 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. Results: Within the Chinese group

GRC 18Gerontology Research Centre and Program 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. Results: Within the Korean group

GRC 19Gerontology Research Centre and Program Q. Who’s going to move out in the next 3 years? A.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. Results: Move vs Stay

GRC 20Gerontology Research Centre and Program Implications: Chinese Seniors 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? Elsewhere Active Utilization of Chinese community centers ? Service coordination ? Quality of neighborhood

GRC 21Gerontology Research Centre and Program 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?

GRC 22Gerontology Research Centre and Program Working with the Community Partners EDUCATION 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

GRC 23Gerontology Research Centre and Program 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, Dr. Hwang at