Adjustments of Korea-born Immigrant Elderly in the United States

Adjustments of Korea-born Immigrant Elderly in the United States

A sample of 9 Korea-born elderly people (2 men & 7 women) living in New England, aged 69 to 81, was interviewed through telephone to investigate the extent of their adjustment to immigration life. A questionnaire was developed to assess mental/ physical health status, acculturation level, intergenerational interaction, life satisfaction, and factors linked to immigration life stressors. Due to a small sample size, any types of statistical analyses were not conducted. All respondents rated their health as somewhat worse compared with a year ago, while a majority of them did not show any problems in emotional health. A grasp of English was found to be the least acculturated area. Most respondents rated their financial satisfaction as even. No matter how long they resided in the U.S. or what SES they were located in, the Korean American elderly sampled still followed Korean customs. Marginalized from their families and American society in general, the interviewees not only expressed their wish to be independent from their adult children financially, but also help them as much as they could. Those whose primary source of income was the Supplementary Security Income rated financial difficulties as their paramount concern for their future living conditions. This paper argues that U.S. welfare policy needs to reflect acculturation status of the minority elderly who still maintain a strong attachment to their ethnic heritage.