Home, Identity, and Aging: The Immigrant Experience

TL;DR

This study explores how older immigrants perceive home and identity, and how these influence their experiences of aging in place.

Contribution

It systematically synthesizes qualitative evidence on older immigrants' conceptualizations of home and aging experiences.

Findings

Older immigrants conceptualize home in diverse ways, including physical dwelling, belonging, family presence, and cultural identity.

Negative experiences are linked to insecurity, lack of support, and social isolation, while positive ones involve community and welfare access.

The review emphasizes the need for inclusive communities to support aging immigrants.

Abstract

The need to facilitate aging in place for the growing aging population has gained increasing global attention in both policy and practice. However, there is a significant gap in research regarding older immigrants’ perceptions of home and identity, which are essential for understanding both individual- and community-level influences on aging in place. This study systematically synthesizes qualitative evidence on older immigrants’ conceptualizations of home and their positive and negative experiences of aging in a foreign country. A systematic review of literature was conducted by searching JSTOR, Medline, PsycINFO, and PubMed. Eligible studies were appraised using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research, resulting in the inclusion of 21 studies. Findings indicate that older immigrants have diverse experiences regarding their sense of home and belonging within their current communities. Home is conceptualized in multiple ways, including as a physical dwelling, a sense of belonging and security, the presence of family, and the preservation of cultural identity. Negative experiences were associated with factors such as insecurity, inadequate support, and social isolation, whereas positive experiences were shaped by the presence of significant others and enhanced access to social welfare. This review highlights the importance of fostering supportive and inclusive communities to better align with the needs of older immigrants aging in place.