Impact of housing arrangements on social support and health status among Chinese American elderly

This study investigated housing issues concerning Chinese American elderly, with a focus on the influences of ethnic association and housing types on social support networks and health status.;An adequate housing environment that fits one's needs is essential to the well-being of the elderly. Housing is more than a physical unit, it is an environment supporting the personal, social and emotional needs of the individual. While progress has been made in the United States to provide senior housing and service programs to assist older Americans in maintaining their independence and well-being, dominant cultural values generally guide policymakers and professionals in planning and implementing senior programs, without considering the specific needs of ethnic elderly immigrants.;The Chinese American population is the largest Asian Pacific American subgroup in the United States, with those aged 65 and above growing at the fastest rate among all older Americans. More than 80% of Chinese elderly are immigrants who face cultural and language barriers, which keep them from accessing existing senior housing programs. This study sought a deeper understanding of the housing characteristics of Chinese American elderly for the purpose of guiding future development of ethnic-appropriate senior housing and related social services. A sample of 260 elderly Chinese Americans was drawn from community senior organizations and aggregated senior housing facilities in both Chinese communities and general communities. Data were collected using semi-structured survey questionnaire including the Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-18) and Health Survey (SF-12v2). All demographic and contextual factors were analyzed in relation to four residential settings based on ethnic association and housing types.;Findings based on descriptive statistics, analysis of the variance, and multiple regression analysis, revealed a diverse pattern of housing settlement, which influenced social support networks and physical health status according to the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the Chinese elders. Mental health status appeared to be independent of housing arrangements. Educational level, number of children, and age were major personal factors predictive of housing arrangements, social networks and health status. Quantitative findings were complemented by qualitative data, providing an in-depth explanation of the results. Implications for policy and practice were discussed.