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Finding a Sense of Home across the Pacific in Old Age— Chinese American Senior’s Report of Life Satisfaction in a Foreign Land

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Abstract

Finding a sense of home for international migrants is challenging. It is even more so for older adults who migrate to a foreign country later in life to follow their adult children. This study examines Chinese immigrant elders’ report of their sense of home and life-satisfaction. Based on 21 intensive interviews and107 surveys with elderly immigrants of Chinese descent, this research finds that a comfortable living condition in a natural and built environment contribute to Chinese elders’ narrative of a sense of home. The lack of English language, however, makes immigrant Chinese elders feel very unsettled. Being together with children and having good social benefits are major pull factors that contribute to immigrant elders’ decision to settle down in a foreign country. Those who report a stronger sense of home tend to report a higher level of life satisfaction. In conclusion, the authors argue that immigrant elders are defining their sense of home with a greater sense of independence from their adult children. Favorable social policies toward older adults, such as Medicare, Medicaid, low income housing, and social services, are important factors that make older immigrants feel a sense of home in a foreign land, although the inability to communicate is a barrier to a complete sense of home for transnational migrants in old age.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Heying Jenny Zhan, Qi Wang & Zoe Fawcett

  2. International Association of Long Term Care Directors, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Xiaoqing Li

  3. Shaanxi Normal University, Xian, China

    Xiying Fan

Authors
  1. Heying Jenny Zhan
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  2. Qi Wang
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  3. Zoe Fawcett
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  4. Xiaoqing Li
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  5. Xiying Fan
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Correspondence to Heying Jenny Zhan.

Additional information

Paper prepared for the Journal of Cross Cultural Gerontology as a Revise and Resubmission, 12–29-2015.

Appendices

Appendix 1: Intensive Interview Guide

  1. 1.

    Tell me something about yourself and your family? (probing for personal and familial backgrounds)

    1. a.

      When did you come to this country?

    2. b.

      Did you ever work in this country? Tell me something about your work, benefits, and retirement (in a foreign country or in the U.S.).

    3. c.

      How many children do you have, male or female, grandchildren?

    4. d.

      Living arrangement: Do you living by yourself, or with your children’s family, tell me something about your family life.

    5. e.

      Intergenerational relations: Do you have grandchildren? How many? Do you help raise your grandchildren? How do you get along with your adult children?

  2. 2.

    How do you feel about Chinese traditional culture of xiao? Do you feel respected?

    1. a.

      Do you feel respected by your children and family

    2. b.

      Are you consulted when children make major decisions?

    3. c.

      What do you expect you are older and unable to take care of yourself?

  3. 3.

    What is your daily routine like? Do you participate in any community or social services, such as church, bible study, clubs, or any other groups

    1. a.

      Probing for available services

    2. b.

      Probing for his/her participation in community or social activities

  4. 4.

    Do you receive any social services? (such as meals on meals, senior services, free lunch?), Or do you know of any services in your neighborhood? Have you used any?

  5. 5.

    If you do, from where and whom do you receive these services? Tell me something about this services

    1. a.

      Probing for level of access, culture sensitivity, language barrier, any other issues related service utilization.

  6. 6.

    What kind of services would you like? What kind of services do you think you need now and would need later?

Appendix 2: Key Composite Scales Used in the Study

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Zhan, H.J., Wang, Q., Fawcett, Z. et al. Finding a Sense of Home across the Pacific in Old Age— Chinese American Senior’s Report of Life Satisfaction in a Foreign Land. J Cross Cult Gerontol 32, 31–55 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10823-016-9304-2

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