Documenting the Health, Well-Being, and Experiences of Older Asian Workers in the Senior Community Service Employment Program

The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) is the only federal job-training program for older adults and serves people aged 55 and older who live at or below 125% of the federal poverty level and experience long-term unemployment, disability, and other employment barriers. Using paper and online surveys, this study asked Asian participants about their experiences in SCSEP as well as six dimensions of health and well-being: physical, cognitive, psychological, social, financial, and interpersonal. The results showed that Asian SCSEP participants in Massachusetts are a diverse group who are often in financially precarious positions and seeking paid work. Many are contributing to their communities by caring for children and adults in need and, if they are not already volunteering, many report interest in finding volunteer work. In addition to their financial precarity, these participants share experiences and traits that may make them more vulnerable or underrepresented in the U.S. context. These include their status as immigrants, speaking languages other than English at home, and having low educational attainment. Due to the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes and bias over the past few years, they may also be experiencing negative consequences that were not covered in this survey