As you point out, there is a dearth of empirical ethnogerontology studies; however, strides are being made in the right direction. A great resource is the Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, who do an admirable job promoting and disseminating ethnogerontological research. 

http://link.springer.com/journal/10823

Dear Steven,

I agree with you: There's a lack of empirical studies, which deal with elderly members of ethnic minorities. Additional there's a great difference between the US-Amerikan and the German state of the arts: You can find articles, published in the eighties or nineties in the US states, but not in German-speaking countries. Thereover in German-speaking textbooks, the term "Ethnogerontology" is to be found hardly. The percentage of minorities is much higher in the US States than in German-speaking countries and so I assume, that's the reason for this difference.

Ethnogerontology is not a part of "mainstream research", in my opinion, it could be considered as a part of fringe-group-sociology (Deutsch: "Randgruppen-Soziologie") and I assume, that's an additional reason, why it's found rarely.

If you search on GEROLIT (a german database for gerontological publications), you only can find 8 (!) articles totally, and 4 articles are of English-speaking origin. (see http://vzlbs2.gbv.de/ below)

At first, for your insight, a few articles from the German-speaking area:

Becker, S. (2013): Ethnogerontologie – neue Perspektiven und Methoden für die alternde Gesellschaft. In: BFH impuls Mai 2013 37f. (see below).

Mölbert, A. (2005): Alt werden in der zweiten Heimat. Ethnologische Alternsforschung und ihre praktische Anwendung bei türkisch-deutschen Gruppen. Dissertation. (see below).

Hahn, W. (2011): Ein neues Zuhause? Eine ethnographische Studie in einem Altenpflegeheim.

I assume, that the state of the arts in English-speaking countries is more interesting to you. So there a few selected publications with - I hope - valuable hints for you, relating to your search of theoretical framework.

Crewe, S.E. (2005): Ethnogerontology. Preparing culturally competent social workers for the diverse facing of aging. In: Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 43(4), 2005, pp.45-57.

Abstract: The aging population is becoming more ethnically diverse. This diversity will require more culturally competent social workers in the field of aging. To be successful in preparing the next generation of social workers, educators must consider introducing ethno-gerontology throughout the curriculum and not overly rely on a specialization or concentration in aging to close the gap. The article provides a history of ethnogerontology and presents its value in preparing culturally competent social workers. It also introduces theoretical frameworks within ethnogerontology. The author presents models to increase ethnogerontology content in the social work curriculum. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580)

Yeo, G.; David, D.; Llorens, L (1996): Faculty development in ethnogeriatrics. In: Educational Gerontology, Volume: 22, Issue: 1. Pages: 79-91.

Abstract: Faculty members in health professions educational programs are recognizing the need for professional development that will enable them to prepare their students to meet the needs of the increasingly culturally diverse population of older adults. Reviews of textbooks in Five health care disciplines and surveys of gerontological programs in the late 1980s revealed limited integration of ethnogeriatric information in textbooks and few models for ethnogeriatric curricula. The Stanford Geriatric Education Center and the affiliated gerontology/geriatric programs at San Jose State University have developed strategies for faculty development in ethnogeriatrics, two of which are conferences and minifellowships. Three conferences have focused on curriculum content and instructional methodologies to teach students in health care programs from 11 disciplines the information and skills for cultural competence in ethnogeriatrics. Six months after the first conference, more than half of the participating faculty members who had expressed an intention to make curricular or instructional changes had made them. Five faculty members from three states have taken the Minifellowship in Ethnogeriatrics which requires them to spend 60 hr in supervised study and 80 hr in individualized study to achieve the objective of increasing their competence in teaching ethnogeriatrics. Recommendations include promoting faculty development through inter-institutional collaboration and obtaining continued or increased support for improving interdisciplinary approaches and model development.

Burnette, D. (1998): Conceptual and Methodological Considerations in Research with Non-White Ethnic Elders. In: Journal of Social Service Research, Volume 23, Issue 3-4.

Abstract: Due to greater longevity and recent waves of immigration, growth rates for ethnic minority elders arc expected to far exceed those of same-aged whites in the next half century. Yet, research in social gerontology has focused almost exclusively on older whites. This paper addresses conceptual and methodological issues relevant to research on nonwhite ethnic elders. The rationale for clear, consistent terminology to define and target study populations is presented first, followed by theoretical and conceptual issues, particularly as they relate to measurement for and across different racial, ethnic, and cultural groups. Finally, issues related to quantitative and qualitative design, data collection, and analysis are discussed.

Torres, S. (2001): Understanding "successful aging". Cultural and migratory perspectives. Dissertation.

Abstract: This dissertation aims to contribute to the rectification of the atheoretization that characterizes the study of aging and diversity through the formulation and preliminary empirical testing of a culturally-relevant theoretical framework for the study of successful aging. Inspired by the Kluckhohnian approach to the study of cultural variation, the framework hereby proposed posits that there is congruence between the understandings of successful aging that people uphold and the value orientations that they prefer in regards to four topics: man-nature, time, activity and relational. Moreover, through the transcultural approach employed (i.e. through the focus on immigrants' understandings as opposed to natives'), this dissertation aims to shed light on how socio-cultural contexts shape the understandings in question and how the process of migration to a culture that significantly differs from one's culture of origin can challenge the manner in which successful aging is understood.

Methodologically speaking, this study departs from the adaptation and further development of the vignette-based instrument that Kluckhohn and Strodtbeck designed for the testing of the theory of cultural variation. Qualitative interviews with 30 Iranian immigrants to Sweden (16 men and 14 women between the ages of 35 and 59 who migrated from Iran to Sweden between the ages of 25 and 48) were conducted using vignettes that tap into both, value orientations and understandings of successful aging.

The results suggest that congruence exists between value orientations and understandings of successful aging. In addition, other notions were brought to light besides the master- nature; future, doing and individual oriented ones that are often associated with the construct in question. The process of migration was also found to challenge those understandings of successful aging that were believed to be inappropriate for the socio-cultural context in which the respondents now live. Thus, not only are understandings of successful aging contextually determined, they are also much more processual than gerontologists seem to have originally assumed. It is therefore suggested that the culturally-relevant theoretical framework hereby proposed allows for deeper insight into individual, generational as well as cultural understandings of successful aging. (see: diva-portal, below)

Torres, S. (2011): Crosscultural differences in ageing. In: Stuart-Hamilton, I. (Ed.) (2011): An Introduction to Gerontology, chapter 12, pp. 340 - 362, Cambridge University Press.

Closing, relating to your question "Has ethnogerontology been fully embraced to provide us with a substantive body of empirical and philosophical literature to lay the foundation for theory and knowledge building ?", I dare to negate this, in any case for the German-speaking countries.

For your empirical research, I've got another, a "practical" idea: Perhaps there are completed empirical studies about the living conditions of Latinos/Hisanos or of elderly people and you can execute secondary analasis in order to get new findings. Moreover you can carry out comparative studies in this way. (I used this strategy successfully when executing my studies about the situations of life of elderly homeless people.)

Good luck and kind regards!

Detlef

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1300/J083v43n04_04#.VIMwjmdARqE

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0360127960220108#.VIMxqmdARqF

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1300/J079v23n03_05#.VIMxMWdARqE

http://uu.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2%3A172896&dswid=7071

http://vzlbs2.gbv.de/DB=41/LNG=DU/SID=6682c464-0/CMD?ACT=SRCHA&IKT=1016&SRT=YOP&TRM=Ethnogerontologie

Very relevant question, which reflects the priority we give to it. I am a doctor and work in the area of public health; we have done research in poor elderly in Santiago, Chile.

 ...............

Changes in the social networks of older adults who are beneficiaries of public housing projects in Chile

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To identify, compare, and analyze the social networks of two groups of poor, older adults in two types of public housing projects in Chile, in terms of the types of relationships and the frequency and purpose of their interactions, before and after moving to their new homes.

METHODS: A descriptive study was conducted of public housing beneficiaries in apartment buildings versus condominiums. The study pool was the group of people assigned to housing in buildings (n = 152) and condominiums (n = 124) from 1998 to 2001. A questionnaire was administered in their homes.

RESULTS: Most study participants indicated that the move to public housing meant leaving their old neighborhood for a new one, a change that, among other consequences, produced changes in their social networks. In general, both groups have similar social networks, with their children being the strongest source of support, both before and after the move. After the move, social interaction generally decreased, except among the adults living in apartment buildings, for whom it increased slightly with family members, and in a superficial manner, with others who had weak connections and were neither friends nor family. Interactions with establishments also decreased, although interactions with senior services increased for the condo residents from 28% to 65% and for apartment residents from 31% to 45%.

CONCLUSIONS: It is recommended that similar programs strive to preserve and strengthen the social networks in place prior to moving and encourage the formation of relationships in the new residences.

Key words: Aged, public housing, housing for the elderly, poverty, Chile. 

Rev Panam Salud Publica vol.23 n.3 Washington Mar. 2008

------------------

Quality of life of elderly subjects living in basic social dwellings

Background: In Chile, the government is providing basic dwellings to poor elderly subjects that do not have a place to live. These dwellings may be located in buildings or in codominiums. Aim: To assess the quality of life perception of elderly subjects

whose dwellings are located in buildings or in condominiums. Material and methods: The brief version of the quality of life questionnaire designed for the elderly by the World Health Organization (WHOQoL-BREF) was applied to elderly subjects of seven poor communities of Metropolitan Santiago, that lived in basic dwellings located in buildings or condominiums. The questionnaire includes questions about physical, psychological, social relations and environment domains. Results: The questionnaire was answered by 124 elderly subjects aged 60 to 90 years, living in condominiums and 152 subjects aged 62 to 94 years, living in buildings. Satisfaction was of moderate or high level for physical, psychological and social relations domains. Those living in condominiums had a better satisfaction level in this last

domain. The level of satisfaction of the environment domain was moderate and better for those living in condominiums. The perception of quality of life deteriorated along with age. Conclusions: Elderly subjects living in basic dwellings located in condominiums have a better quality of life perception than those living in buildings (Rev Méd Chile 2008; 136: 325-33). (Key words: Aged; Housing; Quality of life)

Now, with a interdisciplinary team we are studying the discourse of poor elderly against different types of disaster. We believe it is essential to describe how they perceive events to make decisions in public policies.

 A book to elderly people,in Latinamerica is in:http://www.cucs.udg.mx/revistas/libros/CONDICIONES_SOCIALES_Y_CALIDAD_DE_VIDA_ADULTO_MAYOR.pdf

Thank you for sharing your research findings and a reference citation. Your research seems very valuable and certainly provides insight into social capital and social networks, as well as quality of life issues mediated by type of housing and types of disaster (man made, natural).  It would be interesting to know if your findings reflect any cultural influences or perhaps cultural factors or attributes specific to Latin American elderly populations in Chile. Because your sample population appears to be ethnically homogeneous, ethnic comparisons may be less likely. However if I made a faulty assumption then there may be even more contributions in your study yet to be reported. Regardless, I will look for your articles.   

In the US cross-cultural ethnic comparisons are possible since there are diverse elderly populations such as European White (Italian, Irish, German, etc.) , Latinos (e.g. Mexican American, Mexican, Central and South American); African American ( US born, Haitian, Caribbean, etc.); Asian American (Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, etc.) and Native American (over 500 federally recognized tribes).   So comparisons are possible and in fact quite a challenge in any national cross-cultural gerontology study.

However, what I believe has received far less attention in gerontological research is comparative/cross-national ethnogerontological research from multidisciplinary perspectives. In my opinion, we could enhance our knowledge of elderly people of color comparatively speaking, to better understand intra and inter cultural differences cross nationally, if we looked beyond our respective national borders. . 

Detlef,

Thank you for your enlightened response on ethnogerontology in Germany and your thoughts about its limitations as evidenced by your literature search in GeroLit.  And thank you for the articles you culled on ethnogerontology and ethnogeriatrics. It all helps in this journey. 

In many ways that was the state of the art in Germany is much like it was in the US for decades. Much has changed but much remains static. For example, in 1988 I edited a book titled Hispanic Elderly in Transition: Theory, Research, Policy and Practice. It remained the only book on elderly Hispanics for years thereafter. And to date, the number of books on elderly Hispanics/Latinos is few and far between, as is the case  with books on ethnogerontology.  By contrast there is a growing, substantial body of empirical research on elderly Latinos and other minorities that has emerged and made its way into major refereed gerontology and geriatric journals. That is the good news. 

So the good news is that ethnogerontology is expanding, with more robust studies with  mixed methods.  The bad news is that there is an absence of major textbooks in the US and other countries, with sound theory and practice to operationalize the finding of our empirical studies.   In the US (as in Japan, China and many other countries), we are seeing the leading edge of a booming geriatric population unprecedented in our history. The more we know about this diverse geriatric population from social, psychological, biological, cultural and spiritual perspectives, the more integrated this populations will be in our societies.

Thank you again Detlef for your thoughts, research and your strategies for further investigations. It is greatly appreciated. 

Steven