First-of-its-kind national study provides new insights into housing, caregiving, transportation, finance, healthcare access, and social engagement of Korean American seniors.
The Korean American Community Foundation is proud to present ‘Toward Better Aging,’ a new national study released in partnership with the Asian American Federation that highlights the barriers that Korean seniors in the U.S. face in accessing basic needs and support.
The population of Korean adults age 65 and over in the United States has surged by 69% between 2011 and 2021. However, it continues to be overlooked in in research, funding, and policymaking.
We formed a collaborative of Korean American philanthropies—including the Judith Ehm Foundation, the Korean American Community Foundation of San Francisco, and the Southpole Foundation—to commission this first-of-its-kind research led by the Asian American Federation. Conducted through in-language surveys and focus groups across seven areas, including the DC metro area, the study provides critical insights into issues of housing, caregiving, transportation, personal finance, healthcare access, and social engagement.
KEY FINDINGS
This findings from this study are key in bridging existing policy gaps by better understanding and serving the needs of this demographic.
- 6 in 10 Korean older adults surveyed do not have enough money to afford basic necessities like rent, food, and healthcare.
- Over 41% of those surveyed identified language barriers as the primary challenge in accessing healthcare.
- 73% of Koreans over 65 years old are limited in English proficiency, 39% are low-income, and 69% are immigrants.
NATIONAL CAMPAIGN
We launched a national campaign, hosting press conferences in the key study areas to create and inviting media, elected officials, and community leaders to learn more about the study and how the findings can be used to inform funding and policymaking that can strengthen infrastructures of support for the Korean American older adult community.
Media Briefing for New York | Queens, New York
Key Findings
- New York City is home to 80,846 Korean residents, the majority of whom (59%) live in Queens.
- From 2011 to 2021, the population growth rate of Korean seniors (50+) in NYC was primarily driven by those in the 65+ age group, which experienced a growth rate of 35.9%, in contrast to the 3.1% growth rate of the 50-64-year-old group.
- Korean seniors aged 65 and over in New York City have consistently experienced higher poverty and near-poverty rates compared to other Asian seniors and the overall senior population of the city
- In New York City, households at all income levels headed by Korean seniors aged 65 and over depend more on Social Security benefits and less on retirement funds for their household income compared to households led by Asian seniors and by seniors overall in the city
- In 2021, 4 out of 5 Korean seniors had limited English proficiency.
Statements from Elected Officials & Community Leaders
“We have seen what happens when we don’t have the data, and having this data, having this narrative makes it easier for elected officials to go to our respective halls of government to fight for the funding that is needed.”
Congresswoman Grace Meng
“What I know about my district is that older Korean adults want to age in place—they want to be in the community that speaks their language, see doctors that speak their language, and have access to the food that they’re used to. Studies like this are important because they will help me and other council members to continue to fight for policy changes.”
New York City Council Member Sandra Ung
Media Briefing for New Jersey | Bergen County, New Jersey
Key Findings
- 7 in 10 Korean seniors surveyed do not have enough money to afford basic necessities like rent, food, and healthcare (National: 6 in 10 Korean seniors surveyed do not have enough money to afford basic necessities)
- More than 40% of those surveyed identified language barriers as the primary challenge in accessing healthcare.
- 81% of Koreans over 65 years old have limited English proficiency, 46% are low-income, and 96% are immigrants.
Statements from Elected Officials & Community Leaders
“The data supports what we’re seeing on the ground in terms of housing, healthcare, language access issues. It is about understanding what it means to grow old as an immigrant. I am hopeful that with this report we can come together as a community to ensure that Korean and Asian seniors facing such barriers can pursue opportunities.”
Mi Kyung Je, Executive Director of AWCA
“I am not surprised by the data. We have seen the number of seniors come to us for help more than triple during the pandemic, most of them in need of affordable housing, food stamps, and health care.”
Donald Yu, Assistant Director of the Korean American Senior Citizens Association of New Jersey
“This study gives us the hard data we need to help us expand our services and push into areas that the Korean community needs. How do we predict where the Korean community will need help in the future? How do we make Bergen County a more age-friendly place for Korean seniors? This data will help drive those decisions.”
Jared Kautz, Chief of Staff of the Office of the County Executive on behalf of County Executive James Tedesco
“We have a lot of programs for seniors, but how many Koreans are able to actively take advantage of them?”
Mark Park, Mayor of Englewood Cliffs
“This groundbreaking study truly illuminates the disparities and inequality that we’re seeing in our aging Korean communities. We will continue to open our doors for the community and work in partnership with you to be able to develop programs that recognize the unique needs of the community.”
Deborah Visconi, President and CEO of Bergen New Bridge Medical Center
Media Briefing for Los Angeles | Koreatown, Los Angeles
Key Findings
- 6 in 10 Korean seniors surveyed do not have enough money to afford basic necessities like rent, food, and healthcare
- More than 40% of those surveyed identified language barriers as the primary challenge in accessing healthcare.
- 81% of Koreans over 65 years old have limited English proficiency, 46% are low-income, and 96% are immigrants.
Statements from Elected Officials & Community Leaders
“A Korean senior came to us recently for housing assistance because she was forced to move almost an hour away due to issues of affordability. She has a Section 8 voucher and wants to find senior housing here in Koreatown because it’s been difficult for her to live in a place so far from Korean markets and stores and without access to adequate public transportation.”
Isaac Kim, Executive Director of the Korean Resource Center
“The aggregation of Asian American data neglects the diverse subgroups and their distinct needs. We need disaggregated data to effectively tackle socioeconomic inequalities.”
Dr. Hye-Won Shin, Executive Director of Somang Society
“We commend the Korean American Community Foundation, Asian American Federation, and partners, on their groundbreaking national study which underscores the often overlooked disparities and multi-faceted needs of Korean American older adults. KAFLA is emboldened by their elucidating report to continue to advocate and work with our partners to help ensure equitable access to essential services for the Korean American elderly of Los Angeles County.”
James An, President of the Korean American Federation of Los Angeles
“It is so important to collect and analyze relevant data specific to the Korean American community. This critical process helps to concretely ascertain what the needs are, which helps decision makers create policies that may bring about positive change as well as provide services and programs to meet the needs and improve the quality of life for the aging Korean American population.”
Eunice Song, Executive Director of the Korean American Coalition
“Nationally, we are experiencing a deep crisis in caring for our elders, and across racial groups; the Korean community in Los Angeles feels this crisis acutely. Many of them are in poverty, living with the stress of housing and food insecurity, with deeply inadequate healthcare coverage. KIWA works to address our unbalanced economy and housing crisis so that our communities, and our elders who have sacrificed so much for all of us, can live in dignity.”
Alexandra Suh, Executive Director of the Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance
“Older Korean Americans are often left out of social services, housing, transportation, finances, and healthcare. They have cultural stigma and linguistic barriers that make it difficult to ask for help. Through the findings of this report, we can effectively help, support, and provide the services they need.”
Katherine Yeom, Executive Director of KFAM
Media Briefing for Washington D.C. | Annandale, Virginia
Key Findings
- New York City is home to 80,846 Korean residents, the majority of whom (59%) live in Queens.
- From 2011 to 2021, the population growth rate of Korean seniors (50+) in NYC was primarily driven by those in the 65+ age group, which experienced a growth rate of 35.9%, in contrast to the 3.1% growth rate of the 50-64-year-old group.
- Korean seniors aged 65 and over in New York City have consistently experienced higher poverty and near-poverty rates compared to other Asian seniors and the overall senior population of the city
- In New York City, households at all income levels headed by Korean seniors aged 65 and over depend more on Social Security benefits and less on retirement funds for their household income compared to households led by Asian seniors and by seniors overall in the city
- In 2021, 4 out of 5 Korean seniors had limited English proficiency.
Statements from Elected Officials & Community Leaders
“Language access is not simply an issue of communication, it’s about being disconnected from resources and support. The notices about renewing SNAP benefits are in English, so seniors with limited English proficiency end up losing them. That’s when they come to us for help, and we connect them to food banks and resources as they wait for their benefits to be approved.”
Dr. Ji-Young Cho, Executive Director of the Korean Community Service Center of Greater Washington
“We knew a lot of this to be true, but did not have access to the data to support it. The findings from this study really help to make the case for what we have been seeing day to day in our community and the work that we are doing.”
Soyoung Yoon, Community Services Coordinator at the Hamkae Center
“The study reflects many of the things I also am concerned about with my mother who is 82. Fortunately, she is connected to a community through her church. It really helps, because social isolation leads to mental disorders and many other complications. It is so vital to have a social network and community.”
Peter Rim, President of the Korean Community Senior Housing Corporation of Maryland
CO-FUNDERS: Judith Ehm Foundation, Southpole Foundation, Korean American Community Foundation of San Francisco
RESEARCH PARTNER: Asian American Federation
STUDY PARTNERS: Asian Women’s Christian Association (New Jersey), Hana Center (Chicago), Korean American Community Services (San Francisco), Korean Community Service Center of Greater Washington (Greater Washington D.C.), Korean Community Services (New York City), Korean Resource Center (Los Angeles), Woori Juntos (Houston)
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