“SASKATOON IS ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO LIVE IN CANADA” BUT IS IT AGE-FRIENDLY FOR FILIPINO-CANADIAN OLDER ADULTS?
Date
2021-07-07
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
0000-0002-0265-525X
Type
Thesis
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
The increase in global migration means more immigrants with unique experiences and needs are ageing in host countries. Canada is one of the world’s countries that is known for its multiculturalism. The increase in cultural globalization and the affirmation of cultural identities, combined with the demographic composition, present a dynamic reality for Canadian cities in terms of both ethnicity and age of their residents. Urban geographers must establish development strategies that recognize the intersecting needs of these postmodern environments.
Saskatoon is experiencing a major transformation. Population growth, driven by economic development and new employment opportunities, is contributing to the demographic composition of its residents. Therefore, planning for this increasing, older demographic is critical.
On the political and policy front, interest has increased in making communities more “age-friendly,” an ongoing trend since the World Health Organization launched its global Age-Friendly Cities project. Qualitative research was conducted in Saskatoon within the Filipino-Canadian older adult community, to determine if Saskatoon is indeed an age-friendly community from their perspectives and to identify suggestions to enhance culturally pluralistic age-friendly initiatives in Saskatoon. A semi-structured interview guide was used to collect data from fifteen (15) Filipino-Canadian older adults aged 55 and older.
The highlighted features of an age-friendly community based on the expressions of Saskatoon’s Filipino-Canadian older adults included: Affordable housing (providing low-income housing options for older adults and families with filial piety culture), accessible and affordable health care (admission of more Tagalog speaking nurses/ Tagalog language health services), a safe and secure neighbourhood, and accessible and affordable transportation. Following through examination of Saskatoon’s Filipino-Canadian community, this research highlights the value of cultural and linguistic inclusivity in age-friendly related services as well as the advantages of age-related institutions supporting and cooperating to establish an inclusive environment for Filipino-Canadian older adults within the Saskatoon community. This study not only informs the manner whereby age-friendly communities are conceptualized, but also aims to put the needs of Saskatoon’s Filipino-Canadian demographic at the forefront of urban planning practice and implementation.
Description
Keywords
Ageing, Age-friendly communities
Citation
Degree
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Department
Geography and Planning
Program
Geography