Ethnicity in Aging

Bart Hircus runs exercise classes for older people at housing complexes and recreation centres for seniors.
A few years ago, an Indigenous senior centre invited him to hold fitness classes.
- He was assigned a room and informed in advance about the class.
- Upon arrival, about 10 people, men and women, attended his session.
Hircus began with warm-up stretches and continued with his routine using upbeat music.
During the session, participants started drifting to a nearby patio to smoke and chat.
- They would intermittently wander in and out to observe the class.
After about 30 minutes, Bart gave up trying to get them to exercise and initiated conversation with the members.
He learned that the seniors associated exercise with hard work and could not comprehend exercising without compensation.
- They had previously worked hard as trappers and hunters, linking exercise with labour.
Bart enjoyed the experience and learned from listening to the participants.
Current practices:
- Bart now tailors programs for ethnic seniors by understanding their culture and background.
- He explains the purpose and benefits before commencing classes.
- Adjusts programs to fit participants' backgrounds and experiences.

Gerontologists' Understanding: Culture and life events shape an older person's worldview.
- Diverse senior experiences based on cultural backgrounds and economic challenges.
Definitions of Ethnicity:
- Ethnicity refers to a person’s or their ancestors’ place of birth.
- Citizenship, religious affiliations, values, and beliefs are also defining factors.
Variations among Ethnic Seniors:
- Some have been in Canada for generations, while others may just arrive.
- Differences exist in expectations for family support, community roles, and religious practices.
Barriers:
- Cultural and economic barriers can inhibit satisfying lives in old age.
Service Recommendations:
- Providing services in ethnic seniors' first language.
- Hiring staff who share the same ethnic background.
- Locating services in ethnic-friendly settings.
Study of Ethnicity and Aging:
- Expands understanding of aging and offers pathways to improve lives of ethnic seniors.

Shifting Ethnic Identity:
- A person’s ethnicity might change over time (e.g., Métis in youth, French Canadian in adulthood).
Self-Identification:
- Individuals can choose their ethnic identity, which can shift based on circumstances.
- External perceptions can impose identities (e.g., identifying as Canadian vs. being identified as Asian).

Case Study of Sophie:
- Third-generation Canadian with diverse ancestry from Canada, Britain, Senegal, etc.
- Practices various cultural celebrations: Eid, Christmas, etc.
- Multilingual upbringing in English and French, self-identifying across cultures.
Cultural and Citizenship Dynamics:
- Citizenships: British, Canadian, Senegalese.

Concept: Individuals facing multiple disadvantages (e.g., non-white, female, elderly) experience greater disadvantage than those facing one.
- Example: A visible minority older woman vs. a middle-aged white man.
Significance: Provides insight into various layers of discrimination, poverty, and health risks.
Research Focus: Since the theory is difficult to measure, multiple jeopardy studies often rely on cross-sectional designs.
- Longitudinal studies are advocated to truly capture conditions of disadvantage over time.
Indigenous Seniors: Their experiences reflect the intersecting effects of age, gender, and socio-economic status, revealing unique challenges compared to the general population.

Origin: Roots in feminism and critical race theory.
Focus: The interplay of socio-economic and identity factors (ethnicity, class, immigrant status) influencing seniors’ experiences.
Government Programs: Recognition of the absence of public pensions for specific vulnerable groups like immigrant older women.
Research Findings: Emphasizes community engagement themes like support, trauma, and resilience among the older immigrant population.

Overview: Analyzes life from birth to death, considering social, cultural, and historical contexts that influence seniors.
Implications: Different life experiences (immigration, cohabitation, etc.) shape attitudes and behaviours in old age.
Biographical Importance: Two contrasting Chinese Canadian seniors exemplify diversity in aging experiences based on backgrounds and historical contexts.
Cumulative Disadvantages: Recognizes how disadvantages accumulate, especially among visible minorities, leading to issues in retirement, poverty, and health.

Immigration:
- Canada is highly multicultural, home to various ethnic and religious groups.
Acculturation:
- Ethnic seniors are influenced by their heritage and mainstream Canadian culture, impacting behaviours and experiences over generations.

Factors impacting experiences:
1. Adherence to heritage culture values.
2. Age at immigration.
3. Duration of residence in Canada.
Access to Benefits: Recently immigrated seniors may lack access to essential programs due to language barriers and unfamiliarity with Canadian systems.
Discrimination: Racial biases persist even among those well-integrated into society, illustrating systemic challenges faced by ethnic seniors.

Demographics:
- In 2016, 69% of seniors were born in Canada; of the remaining, 31% were immigrants.
- Immigration trends: Majority from Asia in recent decades.
Visible Minority Seniors:
- Approximately 11% of seniors identify as belonging to a visible minority group.
- The largest groups: South Asians, Chinese, Black Canadians, and more.
Urban Concentration: Immigrant seniors tend to cluster in big cities with different needs from their Canadian-born counterparts, affecting service provision and scalability.