IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i3p1040-d727290.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Where to Retire? Experiences of Older African Immigrants in the United States

Author

Listed:
  • Manka Nkimbeng

    (Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, 420 Delaware St SE., Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA)

  • Alvine Akumbom

    (Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, 525 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA)

  • Marianne Granbom

    (Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, 22100 Lund, Sweden)

  • Sarah L. Szanton

    (Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, 525 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA)

  • Tetyana P. Shippee

    (Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, 420 Delaware St SE., Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA)

  • Roland J. Thorpe

    (Hopkins Center for Health Disparities Solutions, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA)

  • Joseph E. Gaugler

    (Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, 420 Delaware St SE., Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA)

Abstract

Doubling in size since the 1970s, the aging needs of the African immigrant population are not fully understood. This qualitative study examined experiences of aging and retirement planning for African immigrant older adults in the United States (U.S.). Specifically, it explored the factors, processes, and ultimate decision of where these older adults planned to retire. Secondary analysis of semi-structured interviews with 15 older African immigrants in the Baltimore–Washington Metropolitan area was conducted. Data was analyzed using thematic analyses in NVivo. The majority of participants were women, with a mean age of 64. Three overarching themes with ten sub-themes were identified. The themes included: (1) cultural identity, which indicated the participant’s comfort with the U.S. society and culture; (2) decision making, meaning factors that impact participants’ choice of retirement location; and (3) decision made, meaning the final choice of where participants would like to retire. Age-friendliness for immigrant older adults in the U.S. is complex and it includes traditional domains such as physical and sociocultural environment (e.g., housing, transportation, and income). However, immigrant age-friendliness also needs to include wider contextual aspects such as political climate of their country of origin, immigrant status, family responsibilities, and acculturation in the U.S. More research is needed to better understand and facilitate age-friendly environments and transnational aging of immigrant older adults.

Suggested Citation

  • Manka Nkimbeng & Alvine Akumbom & Marianne Granbom & Sarah L. Szanton & Tetyana P. Shippee & Roland J. Thorpe & Joseph E. Gaugler, 2022. "Where to Retire? Experiences of Older African Immigrants in the United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-17, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:3:p:1040-:d:727290
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/3/1040/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/3/1040/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Stacie Carr & Marta Tienda, 2013. "Family Sponsorship and Late-Age Immigration in Aging America: Revised and Expanded Estimates of Chained Migration," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 32(6), pages 825-849, December.
    2. Vincent Horn & Cornelia Schweppe, 2017. "Transnational aging: toward a transnational perspective in old age research," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 14(4), pages 335-339, December.
    3. Ruiz, J.M. & Steffen, P. & Smith, T.B., 2013. "Hispanic mortality paradox: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the longitudinal literature," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(3), pages 52-60.
    4. Noémie Roy & Roxanne Dubé & Carole Després & Adriana Freitas & France Légaré, 2018. "Choosing between staying at home or moving: A systematic review of factors influencing housing decisions among frail older adults," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(1), pages 1-32, January.
    5. Neil K. Mehta & Irma T. Elo & Michal Engelman & Diane S. Lauderdale & Bert M. Kestenbaum, 2016. "Life Expectancy Among U.S.-born and Foreign-born Older Adults in the United States: Estimates From Linked Social Security and Medicare Data," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 53(4), pages 1109-1134, August.
    6. Augustin De Coulon, 2016. "Where do immigrants retire to?," IZA World of Labor, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), pages 297-297, September.
    7. Matthew E Dupre & Danan Gu & James W Vaupel, 2012. "Survival Differences among Native-Born and Foreign-Born Older Adults in the United States," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(5), pages 1-8, May.
    8. Esme Fuller Thomson & Amani Nuru-Jeter & Dawn Richardson & Ferrah Raza & Meredith Minkler, 2013. "The Hispanic Paradox and Older Adults’ Disabilities: Is There a Healthy Migrant Effect?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-29, May.
    9. Wang, Lu & Hu, Wei, 2013. "Immigrant health, place effect and regional disparities in Canada," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 8-17.
    10. Alberto Palloni & Elizabeth Arias, 2004. "Paradox lost: Explaining the hispanic adult mortality advantage," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 41(3), pages 385-415, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mary J. Lopez & Sita Slavov, 2020. "Do immigrants delay retirement and social security claiming?," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 52(10), pages 1105-1123, February.
    2. Mathieu Ichou & Matthew Wallace, 2019. "The Healthy Immigrant Effect: The role of educational selectivity in the good health of migrants," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 40(4), pages 61-94.
    3. Frank Trovato, 2020. "The Immigrant Mortality Advantage in Canada, 2001 and 2011," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 21(2), pages 351-379, June.
    4. Read, Jen'nan Ghazal & West, Jessica S. & Kamis, Christina, 2020. "Immigration and health among non-Hispanic whites: The impact of arrival cohort and region of birth," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).
    5. Norma Fuentes-Mayorga & Alfredo Cuecuecha Mendoza, 2023. "The Most Vulnerable Hispanic Immigrants in New York City: Structural Racism and Gendered Differences in COVID-19 Deaths," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(10), pages 1-21, May.
    6. Justin Vinneau Palarino, 2021. "The Immigrant Health Advantage: An Examination of African-Origin Black Immigrants in the United States," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 40(5), pages 895-929, October.
    7. Colen, Cynthia G. & Ramey, David M. & Cooksey, Elizabeth C. & Williams, David R., 2018. "Racial disparities in health among nonpoor African Americans and Hispanics: The role of acute and chronic discrimination," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 167-180.
    8. Marilyn S. Nanney & Samuel L. Myers & Man Xu & Kateryna Kent & Thomas Durfee & Michele L. Allen, 2019. "The Economic Benefits of Reducing Racial Disparities in Health: The Case of Minnesota," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-13, March.
    9. Paul Novosad & Charlie Rafkin & Sam Asher, 2022. "Mortality Change among Less Educated Americans," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 14(4), pages 1-34, October.
    10. Ruhnke, Simon A. & Reynolds, Megan M. & Wilson, Fernando A. & Stimpson, Jim P., 2022. "A healthy migrant effect? Estimating health outcomes of the undocumented immigrant population in the United States using machine learning," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).
    11. Neil K. Mehta & Irma T. Elo & Michal Engelman & Diane S. Lauderdale & Bert M. Kestenbaum, 2016. "Life Expectancy Among U.S.-born and Foreign-born Older Adults in the United States: Estimates From Linked Social Security and Medicare Data," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 53(4), pages 1109-1134, August.
    12. Anneliese N. Luck & Irma T. Elo & Samuel H. Preston & Eugenio Paglino & Katherine Hempstead & Andrew C. Stokes, 2023. "COVID-19 and All-Cause Mortality by Race, Ethnicity, and Age Across Five Periods of the Pandemic in the United States," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 42(4), pages 1-29, August.
    13. Kerry Ard & Dax Fisher-Garibay & Daphney Bonner, 2021. "Particulate Matter Exposure across Latino Ethnicities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-17, May.
    14. Sun, Nan & Yang, Fan, 2021. "Impacts of internal migration experience on health among middle-aged and older adults—Evidence from China," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 284(C).
    15. Wanchuan Lin, 2009. "Why has the health inequality among infants in the US declined? Accounting for the shrinking gap," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 18(7), pages 823-841, July.
    16. Chang, Virginia W., 2006. "Racial residential segregation and weight status among US adults," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(5), pages 1289-1303, September.
    17. repec:pri:crcwel:wp08-15-ff is not listed on IDEAS
    18. Arnold, Michael & Hsu, Ling & Pipkin, Sharon & McFarland, Willi & Rutherford, George W., 2009. "Race, place and AIDS: The role of socioeconomic context on racial disparities in treatment and survival in San Francisco," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 69(1), pages 121-128, July.
    19. Espinosa, Javier & Evans, William N., 2013. "Maternal bereavement: The heightened mortality of mothers after the death of a child," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 11(3), pages 371-381.
    20. John Gibson & Steven Stillman & David McKenzie & Halahingano Rohorua, 2013. "Natural Experiment Evidence On The Effect Of Migration On Blood Pressure And Hypertension," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 22(6), pages 655-672, June.
    21. Ullmann, S. Heidi & Goldman, Noreen & Massey, Douglas S., 2011. "Healthier before they migrate, less healthy when they return? The health of returned migrants in Mexico," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(3), pages 421-428, August.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:3:p:1040-:d:727290. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.