Abstract:

Immigrants comprise 30 percent of Canada’s population aged 65 years and older. Older immigrants are at risk of social isolation owing the changes and challenges associated with aging in the post-migration and settlement context. Chinese immigrants comprise one of the largest immigrant communities in Canada. As part of a larger study that focuses on older immigrants’ health and wellbeing, we aimed to understand Chinese-speaking older immigrants’ experience of social isolation in Canada. Using the Joanna Briggs Institute’s PRISMA-ScR checklist, a scoping review was conducted to examine the range and nature of literature on social isolation among older Chinese immigrants in Canada. CINAHL, Medline, PsycINFO, Emcare and Ageline databases were searched in May 2024 for relevant literature published in English. Key journals and the reference lists of the included articles were also searched. After a two-stage screening process, a total of 17 articles were included in the scoping review. Relevant data were extracted and analyzed using thematic analysis. The scoping review results revealed that older Chinese immigrants experienced limited social interaction within their close support networks, including family and friends. The results also showed that older Chinese immigrants faced linguistic and cultural barriers to accessing formal social supports, such as healthcare services. Insufficient finances and other resources were often cited as limiting Chinese older immigrant adults’ engagement in social activity. In spite of the barriers they experienced in the post-migration and settlement context in Canada, Chinese older immigrants were found to adopt strategies to overcome social isolation and loneliness, including seeking spaces and places for community involvement, such as faith-based organizations, and/or partaking in community-based exercise programs to develop and maintain connections with others in their neighbourhoods. Healthcare, and social and settlement service providers must be trained to recognize and address social isolation and loneliness among immigrant older adults. Interprofessional and intercultural education is key to ensure that service providers from different disciplines and sectors have the knowledge and skills to support older immigrants foster meaningful relationships with others of the same and different cultural/religious/immigration backgrounds. There is a need for community-based programs and services that are tailored to meet the cultural and language needs of older immigrants in Canada.

Keywords:

Canada, Chinese, loneliness, older adults, scoping review, social isolation.