Engaging in one’s neighborhood fosters independence, promotes social connectedness, improves quality of life, and increases life expectancy in older adults. There is a lack of evidence synthesis on immigrant older adults’ neighborhood perceptions and experiences, essential for addressing neighborhood-level influences on aging in place. This study systematically synthesizes qualitative evidence on immigrant older adults’ perceptions and experiences of their neighborhoods. A comprehensive search was conducted from inception to 5 April 2023, in multiple databases. This review considered studies including immigrant older adults aged ≥60 years, included studies from any country where the neighborhood was the focus, and only considered qualitative data while excluding review studies, theoretical publications, and protocols. Eligible studies were appraised using the JBI critical appraisal checklist for qualitative research. The Joanna Briggs Institute meta-aggregation approach was used to synthesize findings, and the ConQual approach established confidence in the synthesis. A total of 30 studies were included. Most studies were conducted in North America and explored phenomena such as aging in place, social capital, social cohesion, sense of community, and life satisfaction. Key contextual factors were walkable safe access to social spaces, accessible transportation to amenities, social cohesion with neighbors, and pre-migration neighborhood experiences. Immigrant older adults have varied experiences related to their sense of belonging and social cohesion. Factors such as racial discrimination, feeling unsafe, and social isolation contributed to negative perceptions. This review highlights the need for inclusive neighborhoods that align with the needs and values of immigrant older adults aging in place.

Background: Canada’s immigrant and refugee older adult population is projected to grow substantially, making equitable access to information and communications technologies (ICTs) vital for enhancing quality of life in older age. Strengthening the digital competence of immigrant and refugee older adults can improve their social connectedness and access to local information. Objective: This study explored the digital competence of Arabic-speaking immigrant and refugee older adults, focusing on how they engage with ICTs to meet their information and communication needs and the strategies they use to navigate digital barriers. Methods: A qualitative descriptive methodology within a social constructivist paradigm was adopted, incorporating triangulated data collection and iterative co-design cycles. The qualitative approach facilitated an in-depth exploration of participants’ experiences, skills, and emotions and the contextual factors influencing their digital competence. Data were collected through storytelling approaches, qualitative interviews, and focus group discussions, which were effective in capturing the experiential aspects of aging and technology use. Co-design cycles informed 6 digital learning sessions tailored to participants’ immediate learning needs, fostering motivation and engagement and allowing for observation of ICT use. Digital competence was mapped across the learning domains of the Digital Competence Framework for Citizens 2.2. Results: This study engaged 31 Arabic-speaking immigrant and refugee older adults residing in Canada. Most participants had limited formal education (19/31, 61%), lived with family (22/31, 70%), and reported a low income (21/31, 68%). All participants (31/31, 100%) used smartphones as their primary ICT device, whereas few (3/31, 10%) had access to a computer. In total, 3 themes were identified from the analysis, grounded in Digital Competence Framework for Citizens 2.2 competencies on information and data literacy, communication and collaboration, and safety and problem-solving. The themes focused on agency, which is enhanced or constrained using ICTs, impacting older adults’ desire and ability to use these technologies to independently meet their daily needs. Conclusions: Immigrant and refugee older adults require support to navigate digital barriers and gain digital competence. Smartphones serve as a critical tool for enhancing digital agency, which can lead to greater social connectedness and improved access to local resources in older age. The findings will inform the design of future digital competence programs for older migrants, emphasizing community partnership and reciprocal learning.

Background and Objectives. Older adults who lack a secure sense of social belonging may report loneliness, isolation, and ostracization in their communities. Little attention has been paid to the perceptions of social belonging among immigrant Muslim older (IMO) women. This study aimed to address this gap by exploring IMO women’s experiences of social belonging. Research Design and Methods. This qualitative descriptive study used photo elicitation and narrative interviewing to draw on the experiences of 14 IMO women living in Edmonton, Canada. An integrative framework of social belonging was used to guide theoretical conceptualizations of what comprises belonging, and a thematic analysis approach was used to highlight factors and influences that shape how participants have constructed their experiences of belonging. Results. The findings suggest that a sense of belonging is influenced by feelings of loneliness and loss, opportunities for community engagement, and social competencies related to maintaining family relationships. Additionally, the findings indicate the importance of IMO women’s perceptions and reflections on aging as these shape their sense of belonging. These findings not only provide insight into the intricate and shifting nature of belonging but also emphasize the need for structural support to benefit both IMO women and the communities they reside in. Discussion and Implications. Cultivating belonging is a collective responsibility involving older women, their social networks, and society at large, including government and public services. A sense of belonging is crucial to counter ageism and promote positive self‐perceptions of aging, particularly within ethnocultural communities.

Immigrant newcomers and refugees (INRs) are two migrant categories that experience consistent systemic barriers to settlement and integration in Canada as older adults. This paper explores the challenges experienced by Arabic-speaking INR older adults in Edmonton, Canada, during settlement and discusses policy and service implications. A qualitative description study using community-based participatory research principles was implemented to evaluate and support digital literacy in Arabic-speaking INR older adults. We included men and women aged 55 and older who identified as immigrants or refugees and spoke Arabic. Experiences of settlement challenges were consistently identified during data collection and engagement of INR older adult participants. A thematic sub-analysis of interviews with (10 individuals and one couple) of participants’ narratives was completed in 2022 and was used to identify themes related to settlement barriers for this population. Two main themes were identified: (1) Limited English skills and digital literacy gaps create service barriers for INR older adults, and (2) Gaps in services and policies as basic needs remain unmet. We describe key challenges experienced by INR older adults, such as language barriers, precarious finances, poor access to health care services and lack of transportation and employment opportunities, which hinder successful integration into the new society. This study showcases the ongoing challenges with early settlement and integration that continue despite Canada’s well-developed immigration settlement landscape. INR older adults often remain invisible in policy, and understanding their experiences is a first step to addressing their needs for resources that support healthy aging in the post-migration context.

Physical activity program interventions often lack sensitivity to the needs of older immigrant adults. The objective of this systematic realist review is to explain how, why, for whom, and under which circumstances community group-based physical activity programs work for immigrant older adults. The initial program theory was developed using prior research, team expertise, social cognitive theory, and knowledge user consultations. The program theory was tested and refined via a systematic review of the literature. Database searches were conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Sports Medicine and Education Index, and SPORTDiscus. A total of 22 sources of evidence met inclusion criteria and included intervention studies, systematic reviews, and a discussion paper. Intervention studies were appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. The final program theory constituted eight context–mechanism–outcome configurations that highlight the importance of facilitator characteristics, access to safe spaces, group dynamics, and social support. A limitation was the small number and variable quality of included evidence. Physical activity programs that target immigrant older adults must strengthen physical and psychological safety and maximize opportunities for role modeling and socialization. This research was supported by the Alberta Health Services Seniors Health Strategic Clinical Network and is registered in PROSPERO (ID#258179).