Immigrants and urban aging: Toward a policy framework

Abstract

(from the chapter) An earlier version of this chapter was presented as a working paper in the Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt Faculty Seminar on Urban Public Policy, Hunter College, 2006. This chapter discusses a policy framework that takes into account demographic characteristics such as immigrants and urban aging. Specific topics include the following: major trends in aging and immigration; how these trends will affect the composition of urban populations; common assumptions about aging and immigration; the influence of municipal policies in transportation, housing, food, and other areas on the health of older immigrants; and policies that will support healthy aging among immigrants living in cities. This chapter examines key social, economic, and policy issues at the intersection of these demographic trends in our cities. Our intent is to contribute to new ways of thinking to help support the development of a new urban landscape promoting healthy aging for all. In this chapter, we first provide a brief overview and critique of the economic and social debate influencing our current policies on health and aging. We then review several major studies that address the effects of the built and social environment on health and health trajectories of urban older adults, with a particular focus on immigrants and immigrant health. Finally, we present a multilevel conceptual framework for healthy urban aging, adapted from the fields of gerontology and urban public health, and discuss the need to extend and modify this model to focus on healthy aging among immigrants. Based on this framework, we suggest incremental steps toward a public health policy agenda for healthy urban aging. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved).