A Scoping Review of Ageing Experiences among Culturally and Linguistically Diverse People in Australia: Towards Better Ageing Policy and Cultural Well-Being for Migrant and Refugee Adults (original) (raw)
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Australasian Journal on Ageing, 2006
Australia has one of the most diverse migrant populations in the world. This pattern of cultural diversity is also reflected in the older population, with increasing numbers of older people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. The aim of the present review is to examine the evidence base related to the health and social needs and existing support systems for older Australians from CALD backgrounds. It is difficult to generalise the issues and challenges associated with these groups because of their heterogeneity, both between and within groups. However, their health and social needs may be particularly acute as a result of cultural and language barriers; their geographical location and the circumstances of migration, which impact on their financial circumstances as well as psycho-social health. Whilst there is a range of community and government stakeholders involved in addressing these issues, the evidence base for policy and practice is not well understood.
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In an increasingly globalised world, the challenges of meeting the health and social needs of older people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds is becoming increasingly important, with the World Health Organisation stating that designing for diversity is a primary characteristic of an age friendly city (World Health Organization [WHO], 2007). In Australia, the importance of meeting the needs of CALD older people has been recognised at all levels of government and is one of the features of the current proposed Australian Government aged care reforms (Chenoweth, Jeon, Goff & Burke, 2006; Commonwealth of Australia, 2012; Radermacher, Karunarathna, Grace & Feldman, 2011). This paper explores the challenges and opportunities of CALD ageing, building on an earlier scoping study of ageing and cultural diversity (Bartlett, Rao & Warburton, 2006) which included a comprehensive review of the literature (Rao, Warburton & Bartlett, 2006) and analysis of the implications...
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Australia is a culturally diverse country, with one in five older Australians born overseas in non-English speaking countries, as well as others who are part of the Indigenous population of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Little is known about how these individuals age productively and contribute to society. Survey data show that they are less likely to volunteer for an organisation than other older people, yet it may be that they contribute to civil society in alternate ways that are generally unrecognised and unacknowledged. In the absence of a general lack of understanding of how older Australians from diverse cultural backgrounds contribute to community, the aim of the present paper is to explore this topic using qualitative data from a larger study of the lived experiences of older Australians. Findings suggest that respondents are very active within their families and communities in ways that differ from mainstream older Australians. Generally, they have an important role in maintaining or promoting their culture; and providing support across their communities based on common experience. In particular, respondents describe a special relationship with the young within their communities. This includes being a grandparent or elderly advisor, as well as the role that many Indigenous elders play in encouraging and supporting troubled young people. Although further and more representative studies of older Australians are now needed, this paper, nevertheless, begins to explore what has been a neglected area of ageing policy and research.
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