The reasons older immigrants in the United States of America report for returning to Mexico

Abstract

Mexicans are the largest immigrant group in the United States of America (USA) and are ageing rapidly. Few studies investigate whether older immigrants return to Mexico for different reasons than younger immigrants. Using the Mexican Health and Aging Study (N = 952), we examine whether Mexican immigrants in the USA who returned to Mexico at age 50 and older report different reasons for returning than those who returned at younger ages. Few immigrants (regardless of age) returned for economic reasons. The most commonly reported reason for returning for both groups was missing family. However, the odds of selecting missing family over illness as their main reason for returning were lower for older immigrants than younger immigrants after controlling for the duration of their stay in the USA and other socio-demographic factors (odds ratio (OR) = 0.27; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.11, 0.68). Results indicate that older immigrants were just as likely to report returning due to economic reasons and migration problems as they were to report returning because of illness (OR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.15, 2.21; OR = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.12, 1.43). While existing research shows that older immigrants in the USA typically experience fewer migration problems and are often more economically stable than younger immigrants, our research suggests this may be entirely due to the duration of their stay in the USA.

Adapting Andersen’s expanded behavioral model of health services use to include older adults receiving long-term services and supports

“…In the last decade, the use of LTSS in institutionalized settings by racial and ethnic minority older adults (i.e., African-Americans and Hispanics) has nearly tripled [10]. This rapid demographic shift may be attributed to: a decline in informal support as a result of changes in family structure, increased access to public funding for the care of racial and ethnic minorities in institutionalized LTSS settings, and a rise in the healthcare needs of racial and ethnic minority older adults [2,11,12]. Nonetheless, increased utilization of care in institutionalized LTSS settings among racial and ethnic minority older adults warrants a greater understanding of this group's LTSS needs and preferences and provides an opportunity to ensure future LTSS policies overall are racially and ethnically inclusive.…”

Intergenerational relations of older immigrants in the United States

“…Immigrants' parent–child relations are conditioned by their lifelong transnational movements and lasting cultural ties to sending communities. While some immigrants vacillate about temporary or permanent return to the home country as they age out of paid employment and rethink their sense of belonging in the United States, the possibility of return migration can alter their relations with multiple adult children and grandchildren across national borders and foster shifts in family dynamics and household arrangements (Gilbertson, 2009; Sun, 2014b; Vega & Hirschman, 2019). Similarly, immigrants' migratory trajectories and global exposure also complicate their later‐life family relations.…”

Where do overseas Filipinos intend to retire? The case of Filipinos in Chugoku region, Japan

“…For older migrants, their relationship with family members and the role of family members in their older years are important considerations on where to retire. Missing the family (Vega and Hirschman, 2019), receiving (or giving, in some cases) care and other support from the family can also contribute to the intention to return home. On the other hand, staying in the host country can be motivated by having most members of the family already living there, or taking care of grandchildren (De Coulon and Wolff, 2010).…”