Health, quality of life and service needs among older Chinese immigrants in New Zealand
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Date
2020-11-23
DOI
Open Access Location
Authors
Yeung, P
Allen, J
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Massey University
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Abstract
The population aged 65 and over is projected to increase for all four broad ethnic groups in New Zealand. Immigrants comprise 91% of the older Chinese population, with half having been in New Zealand for less than 10 years (compared to 12 per cent of other older New Zealand immigrants). Chinese dialects are the third most frequently spoken languages in New Zealand with Northern Chinese languages alone (Mandarin) representing the fifth most common. Between 2001 and 2013, the number of persons who could speak a Northern Chinese language grew from 26,517 to 52,263 and, for persons aged over 65, this value quadrupled from 996 to 4,266. While older Chinese immigrants likely to have both common and unique experiences of ageing in New Zealand compared to the wide older population, this emerging group remain unrepresented in studies of ageing in New Zealand.
The New Zealand HWR study is a study of health and ageing which began in 2006 and includes a biennial longitudinal survey of older New Zealand adults aged 55+. While over 10,000 older adults have responded to the study since it began, only 1.8% of respondents report an Asian ethnicity. Establishing protocols for the effective engagement of the older Chinese population in research is an important first step in ensuring that their experiences and needs are represented in New Zealand public health research.
Research representing the needs and views of this growing, and potentially marginalised, population has great potential to develop meaningful partnership with the Chinese community in New Zealand. This research is the first to capitalise on a MoU established in 2016 between Massey School of Social Work and the Chinese New Settlers Services Trust Foundation (CNSST). In preparing a report on the findings from this research, the School of Social Work can provide an evidence and a practice base which may inform New Zealand social service providers regarding the needs of this population and inform future practice and investment for services engaging this community. In scoping areas of importance to the health and wellbeing of this population and assessing effective methods of enabling their participation in public health research, this research builds Massey’s capacity to engage the wider Chinese community.
Existing research on older Chinese adults in New Zealand emerged largely in the early 2000s, concentrating on issues such as mental health, resettlement issues and family relationships (e.g., Abbott et al., 2003; Ho, Au, Bedford, & Cooper, 2003). Since then, this body of research has tended to focus demographics and mortality with limited emphasis on key ageing issues, such as caregiving, employment, health and wellbeing, service utilisation, and living and housing arrangements (e.g., Horner & Ameratunga, 2012; Parackal, Stewart, & Ho, 2017). This research will inform practice of public health research initiatives, including the New Zealand Health, Work and Retirement study, which has historically had poor engagement from the older Asian population. This project is anticipated to create an on-going relationship with and access to the Chinese immigrant community via key stakeholders and organisations, supporting other research opportunities to explore other immigrant issues in NZ.
The purpose of this research was to (1) identify factors important for health and quality of life in older Chinese immigrant population in New Zealand, and (2) identify effective and appropriate methods for engaging this population in large-scale public health research.
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2020