Perspectives of older Tamil immigrants on social inclusion

A concept mapping study in Canada

Bibliographic Data

ID12288762
AuthorsFarah Ahmad (0000-0001-9747-1148, School of Health Policy and Management York University Toronto Ontario Canada, corresponding author), Thrmiga Sathiyamoorthy (0000-0001-9998-3454, Interdisciplinary Studies York University Toronto Ontario Canada), Nasih Othman (0000-0002-7701-4932, School of Health Policy and Management York University Toronto Ontario Canada)
Year2021
Volume30
Issue4
Pagese1438-e1448
Publication date2021-08-25
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHealth & Social Care in the Community (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0966-0410 • E-ISSN: 1365-2524
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/hsc.13551
PMID34431583
OpenAlexW3195610525
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited29

Evidence shows that immigrants face several challenges post migration, impacting their social inclusion. Yet, limited scholarly knowledge exists on older immigrants including Tamils from Sri Lanka. Thus, an exploratory concept mapping (CM) study was conducted in 2017 with 27 Tamil immigrant women and men aged ≥55 years and settled in Toronto, Canada. The aim was to gather their perspectives on factors that help them to feel socially included (focal question). The CM methodology first engaged participants in brainstorming sessions to generate ideas in response to the focal question. Participants then joined sorting and rating sessions and sorted 72 generated items and rated them on a scale of 1-5 for importance and feasibility to initiate a change. Finally, in the interpretation session, participants provided feedback on the visual cluster maps generated through quantitative analysis of the collected data. Participants labelled the seven identified clusters: (a) Services for Employment and Settlement; (b) Financial Independence; (c) Medical System and Senior Care; (d) Adaptation and Integration; (e) Family Harmony; (f) Cultural Interaction and Feeling of Security; and (g) Social Interaction. The clusters one to three were at the top for importance (mean 4.33, 4.22, 4.17) and participants interpreted these as needing policy-level attention (e.g. credential evaluation, hiring practices) and identified the roles of advocacy and community-engagement for community-based programmes (CBPs). The Family Harmony was interpreted as needing 'work within families', while CBPs' culturally sensitive outreach was viewed as valuable. Participant interpretation of other clusters highlighted the role of social networking, trust, belonging, civic engagement and social cohesion through joint working of the community members and CBPs. The findings call for an inter-sectoral and community-engaged approach to strengthen the social inclusion of the community. Future research with a larger sample is needed, especially on early settlement experiences and social inclusion of older immigrants

Geography · Immigration · Inclusion (mineral · Linguistics · Older people · Sociology · Tamil · Community Health and Development · Gender Studies · Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes · Health disparities and outcomes · Medicine · Psychology · Gerontology

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