Navigating the Unseen: Healthcare Support Staff's Perception of Existential Loneliness Among Older Migrants.

Abstract

Existential loneliness is a profound sense of loneliness that arises when confronting existential questions, often intensified by the awareness of mortality. For older migrants, this experience may be deepened by feelings of exclusion and a disrupted sense of belonging. While existential loneliness has been explored in general older populations, little is known about how it is perceived and addressed by healthcare support staff working with older migrants. This study explores healthcare support staff's perceptions of existential loneliness among older migrants and the conditions necessary to address their needs. Using focus group methodology, analysis of data generated the overarching theme of "Navigating the unseen," capturing the complexity of recognizing and responding to existential loneliness. Three subthemes illustrate how HSSs perceive and respond to experiences of EL among older migrants. The first two-(a) "Feelings of exclusion contribute to the experience of EL" and (b) "The ongoing quest for belonging"-highlight how participants perceived older migrants' experiences of EL. The third subtheme, "Aspects influencing HSSs' engagement with older migrants experiencing EL," captures factors that shape HSSs' capacity to support this population. This study highlights the complex challenges staff face in addressing existential loneliness in this population. To meet these needs, staff require time, training, and managerial support. Building trustful relationships, fostering cultural and religious inclusivity, and integrating psychosocial care are essential to support older migrants in finding meaning and belonging in later life.