Elderly Immigrants Embrace Nursing Homes

For many American families, nursing homes are a fact of life for the elderly. This article finds that immigrants too are embracing “the very American tradition of living the last years with peers, not family.” In particular, this trend is becoming more commonplace among Asian immigrants – many of whom still feel that the “decision to send a parent away is clouded with shame and ambivalence.” This traditional belief has been countered by increasingly busy lifestyles for families who might have less time to care for their parents. Hispanics, however, have not been as enthusiastic to send their elderly to assisted living facilities. Nonetheless, as time passes, both Asian and Hispanic immigrants will continue to weigh traditional cultural beliefs versus an "American way" of caring for the elderly. - YaleGlobal