Posted on 04/20/2009 4:30:43 PM PDT by SJackson
The issue at hand brings together professionals and policymakers in aging with those in immigration to address their many common challenges. Fernando Torres-Gil, director of the Center for Policy Research on Aging at UCLA, says the process will not be easy. Immigration studies virtually ignore aging, and within the field of aging, the subject of immigration has been taboo.
"Partly," Torres-Gil says "it's differences between current elders, whose generational viewpoint is not seen as politically correct, and professionals and advocates in aging who are more liberal. It's just easier to leave it alone."
Torres-Gil, writing in Generations, the journal of the American Society on Aging, says: "The U. S. has always been a society in constant metamorphosis, like a beautiful butterfly. We have a constant influx of immigrants from around the world who continue to help us shed our skin to become a richer, better America. It's enlightened self-interest. We benefit from their work and other contributions to our economy, and from their values of filial respect and compassion, because we tend to lose these in a capitalist society."
Experts agree it is imperative to begin the conversations that can lead to constructive interventions and positive policies promoting coalitions that are more intergenerational, interracial, and interethnic.
The demographics are surprising. Most of the older immigrants in the U.S. are not newcomers, having migrated as children or young adults. They are generally well incorporated into our society. However, one in eight older foreign-born persons now in the U.S. is a newcomer, a late-life immigrant who has arrived here in the last decade.
Most of the older people who immigrate permanently are the aging parents of naturalized U.S. citizens.
Judith Treas, Ph.D., professor of sociology at the University of California, Irvine, also writing in Generations, describes the four myths about older adults in America's immigrant families.
Myth No. 1: Immigrant families are traditional. Not true. In the U.S., grandmothers tend to live in the households of their married daughters. In India, the expectation is to live with the son.
Untraditional is the way many older immigrants travel between continents on a routine basis. Many also travel from the home of one adult child to another's. "Although culture plays a role, it takes a fine eye to distinguish what is 'traditional' as opposed to a practical adaptation to poverty, ineligibility for public programs, or the need for trusted household help," says Treas.
Myth No. 2: Immigrant older adults are family dependents. Not necessarily. Many elders do rely on kin for support; however, older adults give as well as they get. Immigrant family life emphasizes interdependence over dependence. "Older immigrants are hands-on caregivers," says Treas. "While grandchildren eventually grow up and grandparents grow too old to help out, older immigrants are important to the well-being of the younger generation."
Myth No. 3: Immigrant elders are authority figures. Despite the everyday household responsibilities, despite the affection of kin, older immigrants do not call the shots.
Myth No. 4: Immigrant family life guarantees happiness and security. Ah, if only that were true. One downside of immigrant family life is the limited control that older adults have over their own lives.
Older immigrants will be profoundly affected by any changes in immigration policies in the U.S. We must consider them throughout the process.
Many of the new immigrants, even illegal ones who are older get on SSI and other programs. Net drain.
Evidence for an SSN Card for an Illegal Alien (Federal Benefits for Illegal Aliens?)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2230096/posts
That is a different kettle of fish. I'd give them a bus ride home.
I didn’t say just illegal. My point is, families are not caring for the older immigrants, we are.
“Many of the new immigrants, even illegal ones who are older....”
We have a constant influx of immigrants from around the world who continue to help us shed our skin to become a richer, better America. It’s enlightened self-interest. We benefit from their work and other contributions to our economy, and from their values of filial respect and compassion, because we tend to lose these in a capitalist society.” ...OOOhhh Just....GEEEZZ. Another swipe at productivity and living unlike a third world country.
We’re in agreement. It’s my suspicion she’s talking about illegals, but the fact remains that legal immigrants with family here come here with the assurance of support. There really isn’t much for a collective “we” to be doing any differently than we’d do for any older person.
That’s the goal....us being knocked down to the third world country level.....I’m thinking of sending an email to friends/family.....”Won’t it be great to live just like they do in CUBA or VENEZUELA????”
Her parents were quite wealthy over there. Upper crust. They took on basically jobs well below their education and experience to come here and give their children a shot at a better life, without the fear of persecution.
And they bestowed upon this country an architect, a lawyer, a professor and a nurse. And a strong second generation, all well Americanized. That is the power of legal immigration. I do not begrudge the Social Security my former mother-in-law receives. Her children cover it and then some.
But that needs to be our emphasis. Bring in people who assimilate and who enhance our nation.
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