A Systematic Review of Challenges with Social Engagement of Older Immigrants in Community Programs in the United States

Background and Purpose

Prior studies have indicated that older immigrants face vulnerabilities such as social isolation, loneliness, social exclusion, discrimination, and acculturation post-migration. These challenges are intricately linked to disrupted social networks, cultural and linguistic barriers, and unfamiliarity with host country citizens, thereby constraining their ability to socially engage with a broader community. Hence, reestablishing social engagement such as interpersonal relationships and interactions, post-migration becomes a notable challenge for older immigrants. To better serve this population, this study seeks to explore older immigrants’ challenges with social engagement in community programs by answering the research questions, (a) What are older immigrants’ experiences when engaging in social programs within their community? and (b) What does the literature report as multicultural components of aging-related programs?

Methods

Through a systematic review of existing literature, this study seeks to (1) identify existing literature that discusses older immigrants’ involvement and participation in community programming, (2) synthesize findings on the accessibility of such programs, and (3) present recommendations for modifications in programs and policies to best serve this population of older adults. Guided by the PICO framework and PRISMA guidelines, this review of the literature systematically searched 11 university databases to uncover literature related to the social engagement of older immigrants. After completing a three-stage review process, the literature was reduced to a total of 20 (N=20) full-text peer-reviewed journal articles.

Results

Findings from this study include community engagement practices among older Korean Americans, older Chinese Americans, aging members of immigrant-refugee communities (e.g., Africa, Asia), older Mexican Americans, and Vietnamese older adults. Findings suggest that due to ageism, social disintegration, and other challenges, such as language barriers, many aging immigrants may not benefit from existing community programs, thus exacerbating loneliness and social isolation. A better understanding of older immigrants’ lived experiences is greatly warranted to ensure well-being in later life.

Conclusions and Implications

Our findings carry implications for both practice and future research. While our study encompassed various ethnic groups, it is imperative to acknowledge the potential divergence in social engagement and practices among the groups and the challenges they face with social engagement outside of their ethnic groups. Therefore, caution should be exercised when developing social engagement programs, as our findings suggest that conceptualizations of social engagement vary across the studies reviewed. Practitioners should also take into account these nuances when working with migrants from diverse backgrounds, recognizing that social engagement plays a pivotal role in aging. Placing older migrants in programs that align with their language and cultural preferences may mitigate social isolation and disconnections. Consequently, future studies may benefit from a more targeted examination of social engagement practices within and without distinct ethnic groups.