Best Practices for Studying Older Migrants in Context

Chair(s)

• AR

  Ashley Ritter, PhD, MSN

  Director of Clinical Care Research
  Research
  NewCourtland
  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Co-Chair(s)

• AG

  Allen Glicksman, PhD FGSA

  Embedded Scientist
  Research
  NewCourtland
  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

  Slides

Discussant(s)

• RS

  Robert Schrauf, PhD (he/him/his)

  Professor of Applied Linguistics
  Applied Linguistics
  Pennsylvania State University
  State College, Pennsylvania, United States

Individual Symposium Abstract First Author(s)

• 

  Basak Bilecen, PhD (she/her/hers)

  Associate Professor
  Sociology
  University of Groningen
  Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
• 

  Freya Diederich

  Postdoctoral Researcher
  Department for Health, Long-Term Care and Pensions
  University of Bremen
  Bremen, Bremen, Germany
• 

  Sandra Torres, PhD (she/her/hers)

  Professor of Sociology & Chair in Social Gerontology
  Sociology
  Uppsala University
  Uppsala, Uppsala Lan, Sweden
• AG

  Allen Glicksman, PhD FGSA

  Embedded Scientist
  Research
  NewCourtland
  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

  Slides

Understanding health outcomes of the older migrant (ages 60+) requires insight into the perceptions of the older person and considering the impact of the environment in which the older person lives. The four papers on this panel address these issues, each using a different methodology. Bilecen’s study, using qualitative methods, examines the impact of the wording of questions on the ways in which older Turkish migrants in the Netherlands discuss loneliness. The paper helps us understand both perceptions of older migrants and the influence of methodology used on the types of responses collected. Diederich’s paper on Cuban migrants to the United States uses census data to investigate the impact of changes in the environment of arrival at different points in time on care arrangements later in life. She demonstrates the value and limitations of using this type of data. Torres uses a survey of the scientific literature to ask questions about the impact of bigotry on the well-being of older immigrants and whether lack of attention to this topic means there is an important missing piece in our understanding of the experience of the older migrant. Glicksman et. al. use clinical data to describe interactions with the formal health and social service systems by persons of limited English proficiency, an opportunity to understand both actual service use and the benefits and limitations of using clinical data for this purpose. Schrauf’s response will discuss both the findings and the relation of methods to goals in the study of older migrants.

This is an International Aging and Migration Interest Group Sponsored Symposium.

Presentations:

• 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM ET

  "God Alone Exists in Solitude": Interviewing Old Migrants About Loneliness
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Basak Bilecen, PhD (she/her/hers) – University of Groningen
• 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM ET

  Immigrant Experiences and Care Arrangements Later in Life: Evidence From the Mariel Boatlift
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Freya Diederich – University of Bremen
• 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM ET

  Racism in Research on Older Migrants and Ethno-Racial Minorities: Insights From Two Scoping Reviews
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Sandra Torres, PhD (she/her/hers) – Uppsala University
• 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM ET

  The Use of Ambulatory Versus Emergency Services Among Senior Adults With Limited English Proficiency
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Allen Glicksman, PhD FGSA – NewCourtland