A Scoping Review on the Impact of the Environment on Racialized Immigrant Older Adults’ Social Connectedness and Sense of Belonging

Background and objective The increasing number of immigrant and older adult populations in Canada is reflected among racialized groups. Migrating to a new country at an older age, language barriers, financial concerns and immigration policies present challenges for connecting to the community. Many racialized immigrant older adults (RIOAs) experience challenges related to engaging in and feeling a sense of belonging in the community. This scoping review maps out and summarizes evidence on the impact of the environment on RIOAs’ social connections and belongingness in Canada. Methods Ageline, CINAHL, Medline (Ovid), APA PsycInfo, Sociological Abstracts, Joanna Briggs Institute EBP Database, the Cochrane Database and ProQuest Dissertation (2) Interpersonal Level: Meaning of social connection and experience of support; (3) Organizational Level: RIOAs’ experience with institutions in Canada; (4) Community Level: RIOAs’ experience in their neighbourhood; and (5) Public Policy Level: Poverty and retirement in Canada. Conclusion Interconnected factors that affect RIOAs’ social connectedness and sense of belonging in Canada include personal characteristics, family status, the neighbourhood in which they reside and policy implications. Considering the aforementioned factors in programme and policy development may inform how to better support this population in Canada. Implications A collaborative effort from family members, neighbours, community members, organizations and policymakers is needed to facilitate RIOAs’ engagement and sense of belonging in the community.