Asian older population

Demography

The term ‘Asian’ refers to people originating from countries in West Asia (Afghanistan and Nepal); South Asia (covering the Indian sub-continent); East Asia (covering China, North and South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan); and South East Asia (Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia).

Asian groups are diverse in their cultures, languages, religions, educational status and migration or refugee experiences. However, they do share certain collective cultural values and orientations. It is important to note that some Asian communities have settled in New Zealand for three or more generations and that not all Asian older people are newcomers.

Asian groups now comprise 22% of the region’s population (SNZ, 2013). In 2010, around 310,000 Asian people resided in the Auckland region, comprising 127,000 Chinese, 100,000 Indians and 84,000 Other Asian people. Asian groups were the second largest ethnic group in Auckland DHB, Waitemata DHB and across the Auckland region and the third largest group in Counties Manukau DHB after European/Other and Pacific peoples (Mehta, 2012). One third of all Asian migrants have been in New Zealand fewer than five years.

People aged 65 years or older, comprise around 10% of the Auckland population. Census 2013 show significant growth in the Asian over 75 years age group compared to Census 2006 (SNZ, 2013).

Asian older people population characteristics

Greater cultural diversity in Auckland region populations and an increase in Asian older adults, has led to an increased awareness of the cultural needs of Asian older people and their families. The migrant experience for Asian older people can be particularly stressful due to factors such as limited or no English language proficiency; limited incomes; loneliness and isolation.

Asian older people’s adjustment to New Zealand society is affected by their: pre-migration history; countries of origin; cultural backgrounds; socioeconomic status in their country of origin; prior history of living in an urban versus a rural environment; and reasons for migration (political, economic, familial). Successful integration in New Zealand society is influenced by: the proximity of other older people who speak the same language; participation in cultural and religious communities and ethnic social clubs. Asian people who migrate at an older age may find themselves isolated in their new surroundings. As newcomers, they must adapt to a new and alien culture and language. For these reasons, daily life in a new environment may become stressful for older people (Kalavar & Willigan, 2005).

Chinese and Korean older people who have migrated to join their children often arrive to help care for their grandchildren. Older migrants in Chinese and Korean communities may speak little English. Chinese and Korean older people tend to hold on to traditional values of gender expectation, age hierarchy, filial piety and collectivity (Stokes-Chen & Pan, 2010).

In traditional South Asian societies, extended family members usually live together as a single family unit. When families migrate, often, the husband’s parents will join them, particularly when help is needed with child-rearing. Grandparents’ roles in raising children is highly respected, and provides an important link to cultural and religious heritages. Parents who have migrated to join family are often financially dependent on their children. They face the challenges of being in a culturally alien society, may face language barriers, role reversal, a loss of status and a restricted lifestyle (Periyakoil & Dara, 2010; Sohn, 2010).

Health status of Asian older people

The healthy migrant effect abates over time as acculturation occurs. The health needs assessment of Asian people living in the Auckland region shows that CVD mortality rates are rising among Indians, and the burden of diabetes is increasing in other Asian communities and, to a lesser extent, among Chinese people in Auckland (Mehta, 2012).

The Health needs assessment of Asian people living in the Auckland region (Mehta, 2012) provides further information about the health status of Asian peoples.