Methods: A qualitative research approach was used to understand the challenges and barriers to access and utilize the services among the older population.Research ethics approval was obtained from the Research Ethics Board at the University of Calgary before initiating the data collection. Key informant interviews were conducted with 20 service providers including 10 service providers from immigrant-serving organizations and 10 service providers f rom mainstream senior-serving organizations. The interviews mainly focused on the key components of their mandates, the nature of their interactions with older Chinese people, key constituencies, and their own views and perspectives on connecting older Chinese people to mainstream senior programs/services in Edmonton, including specific recommendations and priorities for collaborative action. The interviews took approximately 60 minutes and were conducted in EnglishTwo focus group sessions were conducted with older Chinese to learn about their lived experiences and perspectives in navigating mainstream senior-serving organizations. Each focus group included 10 participants; one focus group was Cantonese speaking and one focus group was Mandarin speaking. Before each focus group, a demographic survey data was administered to collect participant information about their marital status, household composition, education, employment status, language spoken at home, and immigration class upon entry to Canada. In the focus group discussions, older Chinese participants were asked about the services and programs accessed in Edmonton, and what areas would benefit from collaborative action to better facilitate their connection to mainstream senior-serving organizations. Each focus group session took approximately 2.5 hours in duration.
Results: Several themes were generated which included: Awareness and access to the services, perceptions of the services, diversity, and use of social media. Major barriers to access were language, transportation and lack of inclusion of cultural values and preferences. Chinese older adults prefer to use social media as a mode of social integration and connections with the family and others. Mainstream organisation lacked to provide culturally based services to the Chinese older adults due to lack of funding and other resources. Most of Chinese older adults prefer to use immigrant serving organisations for the available services
Conclusion: There is a strong need to include voices of Chinese older adults in the provision of services. A strong collaboration and partnership among the organization is needed to improve the existing services and overall promoting the overall health of the Chinese older adults in the community.