Ageing as a migrant: vulnerabilities, agency and policy implications

Abstract

This paper starts with a short review of the growing literature on the topic of older migrants, particularly in relation to this population’s diversity, social vulnerability, loneliness, (transnational) care and support networks. It then introduces the collection of papers of this special issue by proposing an approach to studying older migrants as social actors who develop strategies to surpass vulnerabilities. Older migrants mobilise their resources while taking into account structural opportunities and restrictions from the meso and macro levels. Hence their strategies are placed at the intersection between family obligations and resources, social networks, and migration and care regimes. Such an interdisciplinary and multi-level model acknowledges the heterogeneity of older migrants. The paper concludes with a discussion of the research results that have implications for policies targeting the growing population of older migrants

Moving backwards, moving forward: the experiences of older Filipino migrants adjusting to life in New Zealand

“…This is supported by Park and Kim (2013), who describe older migrants’ experience of disconnection from previous life routines back in their country of origin as part of the adjustment process. Similar migrant experiences have also been noted by Park et al (2015), who refer to the “broken social convoy effect”, suggesting one of the many social vulnerabilities encountered by older migrants in their host societies, compounded by their age-related changes and life experiences (Ciobanu et al, 2017). Over time, the older Filipino migrants interviewed in the present study felt that they had adjusted to the challenges of living in a new country and had learnt to appreciate and enjoy living in New Zealand; this was referred to as “moving forward”.…”

“…One relevant example concerns healthcare policies for migrant families and ethnic groups, which undergo comprehensive background work and a careful analytical decision-making process at the policy level (Mladovsky, 2009). The increasing global population of older migrants and the multifaceted implications identified in the growing body of literature on the topic from different disciplines (Ciobanu, Fokkema, & Nedelcu, 2017) suggest a need for further exploration through empirical research.…”

Immigrants Coping with Transnational Deaths and Bereavement: The Influence of Migratory Loss and Anticipatory Grief

“…The life courses of migrants are marked by discontinuity, family separations, and disruptions of familiar socio‐economic contexts, which previously provided a safety net and meaning in life (Ciobanu et al., ). Practitioners working with this population should be aware of losses and mourning in immigration not only initially, at the time of relocation to a new country, but also throughout the years, as immigrants undergo life‐cycle changes and encounter the deaths of their loved ones in the country of origin.…”

Transnational aging: toward a transnational perspective in old age research

“…New focal points are emerging in Africa (Chege 2014), Latin America (Hayes 2015;Lardiés-Bosque et al 2016) and Southeast Asia (Husa et al 2014;Ono 2008;Toyota 2006;Wong and Musa 2015). In contrast to life-style migration, the older peoples' hope for the resolution or alleviation of currently perceived or anticipated personal strains and problems appears to be a core characteristic for this kind of mobility (Bender et al 2014;Hayes 2015;Toyota and Xiang 2012).…”