Challenges and adjustments in maintaining health and well-being of older Asian immigrants in New Zealand: An integrative review

Abstract

Objective: There is a paucity of health-related research on older Asian immigrants in New Zealand. The aim of this review was to critically examine literature on the health and well-being of this population group. Methods: An integrative literature review was conducted from December 2017 to February 2018. Online databases searched were Scopus, MEDLINE, CINAHL and the Australia/New Zealand Reference Centre. Results: Two themes were identified: Firstly, the “challenges stemming from an unfamiliar environment” faced by older Asian immigrants, and secondly, their “strategies for adjusting to a new home.” These themes suggested how participation in community and leisure activities, as well as adapting their outlook on life, contributed to these older migrants’ health and well-being within a New Zealand context. Conclusion: A multitude of challenges in maintaining health and well-being confronted these older Asian immigrants; nevertheless, they created strategies to respond and positively influence their health following later-life migration.