VOLUME V
SURVEY OF CHINESE SPEAKING
ELDERS
BROOKLINE
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Chinese immigration into Massachusetts has increased rapidly in the last two decades. Today, Chinese-speaking residents comprise the largest linguistic minority in Brookline. With these facts in mind, the Department of Public Health, under the direction of Alan Balsam, Director, in cooperation with Boston College, initiated a community health assessment of the Chinese-speaking elderly population in the Brookline area. In 2000, a group was formed with representatives from both Boston College and the Brookline Department of Public Health. This group interviewed 177 Chinese-speaking elderly immigrants residing in Brookline. The goal of the interviews was to gather information on the health status and health care needs of this population.
Data presented in this document describe the sociodemographic characteristics, self-reported health status, health related behaviors and needs of this growing elderly population. These data provide valuable information to be used for program development for this population in Brookline. It will also provide a baseline from which to measure progress over time.
Major findings from
this report are:
¨ 66% of the Chinese-speaking elderly households had yearly incomes under $10,000. Ninety-one percent (91%) of the respondents living alone had incomes lower than $10,000;
¨ 27% have a college or advanced degree;
¨ 76% of the Chinese-speaking immigrants receive some financial support from the government such as Social Security Income or other cash benefits;
¨ 51% of the Chinese immigrants receive Medicaid, and 64% receive Medicare. Thirty-two percent (32%) of the respondents have dual eligibility;
¨ Less than 10% rated their ability to speak, read, understand, or write in English as “well” or “very well”;
¨
57%
of the Chinese immigrants experienced language difficulties when using health
care services;
¨ 38% had a scheduled visit to a health care provider in the preceding month;
¨ 19% of the respondents scored as “depressed” on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), yet no one admitted seeing a psychiatrist;
¨ 38% reported using herbal medicine. The percentage of respondents using home remedies, chiropractics, and acupuncture was 6%, 6%, and 4% respectively;
¨ 28% used food for medical treatment;
¨ 6% of the respondents reported that they currently smoke; 27% smoked in the past;
¨ 8% of the respondents reported drinking alcohol on a regular basis (2-3 times a week or more); and
¨ 81% of the Chinese immigrants reported doing exercise regularly, (2-3 times a week or more). Walking, Tai Chi and other types of Chinese exercises, are the most popular types of exercise.
Acknowledgments
This report was prepared by Bei Wu, Ph.D., of the Gerontology Institute of UMASS Boston, under the direction of Alan Balsam, Ph.D. M.P.H., Director of Brookline Public Health and Human Services, in cooperation with Thanh V.Tran, Ph.D., of Boston College Graduate School of Social Work, and Karen Aroian, Ph.D., of Boston College School of Nursing. Barbara Newman, M.S., was also involved with editing and technical support, along with Millie Krakow, Ph.D.
Special thanks to Ruth Moy, Kun Chang, and the Chinese Golden Age Center for their help and support in this effort.
Thanks
are due to all of the Division Directors and the Brookline Department of Public
Health for their support and input:
Patrick
Maloney M.P.A.H. Gloria
Rudisch, M.D., M.P.H.
Barbara
Westley, R.N. Gerry
Trombley, M.S.W.
Lynne
Karsten, M.P.H. Elizabeth
Van Ranst, M.S.S.S.
Mary
Minott, L.I.C.S.W. Richard
Bargfrede, A.S.
Other
Town departments that were particularly helpful were: Information Services and
Accounting, for their computer assistance and support; the Brookline Council on
Aging; and especially Tim Sullivan, who printed this document.
A
special thanks to the Advisory Council on Public Health
J. Jacques Carter, M.D., M.P.H., Chair
Millie Krakow, Ph.D.
Kerry McDonald, M.P.H.
Roberta Gianfortoni, M.A.
Elizabeth Hirshom, R.N.
Bruce Cohen, Ph.D.
Funding
Healthy Brookline, Volume V, represents a partnership with a variety of funding sources. The Brookline Department of Public Health acknowledges the Farnsworth Trust and the New England Medical Center for their major support, plus the following other contributors:
Major
contributors:
Beth
Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Brigham
and Women’s Hospital
St.
Elizabeth’s Medical Center
Children’s
Hospital
With
Additional Support From:
Blue
Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Brookline
Community Fund
Harvard
Pilgrim Health Care
Introduction
The
Healthy Brookline series is designed
to present data on the health status and risk factors of Brookline
residents. Volume V focuses on the population
of elderly Chinese-speaking immigrants.
According
to the 1990 census, there were about 6,750 Asian and Pacific Islanders over the
age of 60 living in the Greater Boston area. Most of these were
Chinese-speaking elderly immigrants.
Since 1990, the number of Chinese immigrants has increased rapidly. Based on the 2000 census, there are 264,814
Asians in Massachusetts, an 86.3% increase from 1990. In Brookline, the census identified 7,874 Asians, a 72.1%
increase from 1990. Again, as in 1990,
a large percentage were Chinese-speaking.
Ethnic
Chinese in the U.S. emigrated from many different areas in Asia, such as
Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore. The majority of Chinese immigrants in Boston
came from Mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Before 1980 the Chinese concentrated in Boston’s Chinatown. However, in the past two decades, an
increasing number of Chinese immigrants settled in the Greater Boston area.
The
first step in analyzing this population of Chinese immigrants consisted of
qualitative interviews. These included
12 in-depth interviews, and one focus group with 12 respondents. Based on these
qualitative interviews, an original survey was designed and administered to 177
Chinese-speaking elderly immigrants residing in Brookline. These immigrants were identified through
Chinese service agencies, elderly housing units, and personal contact. This
report is designed to present data on the health status and health care needs
of this elderly population.
The
findings from the study follow.
Explanations precede all charts and tables.
