This essay asserts that seasonal and permanent migration may be connected, although there is no direct evidence for this relationship in the current research literature. We draw circumstantial and incomplete evidence for this proposition from findings of a recent survey of Canadian snowbirds in Florida and a parallel study of Canadian-Americans using the 1980 census public use sample migrant file. Other researchers are encouraged to settle the issue by including appropriate items in surveys of snowbirds that would determine whether or not some of the permanent migrants from the same origin serve as an unofficial reception committee for winter visitors, providing for them a socially receptive place to "nest" for the season.
This study reports on a population of Anglophone Canadian seasonal migrants to Florida. Surveys were mailed to 4,500 subscribers to Canada News, a Florida-based weekly paper, and were completed by 61% of the respondents. The descriptive profile reveals younger-old, healthy, married, home owners of moderate income who stay in Fionda for six months, but communicate regularly with their Canadian family. They utilize no social services in Florida, are satisfied with life and with their Florida health care experiences, but take various precautionary health care measures prior to leaving Canada. Their Florida visits will continue, moderated more by the exchange rate than health concerns. These data will be discussed relative to policy issues for Florida and Canada.
Older English-speaking Canadian seasonal migrants to Florida (N = 2046) were surveyed during the winter of 1986. They are users of two health care systems and are generally in good health. When they do need to use health care resources, however, they show a distinct preference for the Canadian system. There is a sensitivity to health concerns, especially among the older of the migrants. This sensitivity generates considerable precautionary behavior including pretravel visits to their Canadian family doctors, stocking up on drugs before the trip, and taking out health insurance for Canadians traveling abroad. The behavior is strategic in that it is both intentional and oriented to contingencies. Cost of health care may be a motivating factor because such strategic behavior is inversely related to income in this relatively affluent migrating population. The flock of Canadian snowbirds is not likely to place exorbitant demands on the U.S. health care system.
As part of a larger study focusing on different facets of the lives of 2,731 older Canadians who seasonally reside in Florida, we investigated primarily the extent of family and friendship contacts and the loneliness expressed by these older Canadians. The data were collected using a questionnaire that was distributed and returned by mail. The sample was taken from the subscription list of a newspaper in Florida that was a subsidiary of a large Canadian newspaper. The results show a population that was relatively young, married, in generally good health, and with rather extensive contacts with family and friends while residing in Florida. Nevertheless, more than a fifth indicated they were at least somewhat lonely. Results, using discriminate function analysis, showed that those more lonely were younger, female, less educated, not married, in poorer physical health, had fewer Florida friends, and had more children who lived near them in Canada, but fewer children who lived near them in the United States. Implications of the results are discussed.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.