Pathways of aging in migration and their association with the quality of life

Abstract

This study adopted a life course approach in exploring the quality of life of old migrants based on the experiences of Korean Australians aged 60 years and over. Pathways of aging were considered as related to the aging progress in migration, and three different groups were identified: aged with a migrant background (those who migrated when they were younger and had grown old in the destination country), family migrants (those who accompanied/were invited by their children), and retirement migrants (those who chose to migrate in later life independent of their children). The study identified elements of quality of life particularly meaningful to specific groups. The findings of this study may help in broadening the knowledge base of the diverse aging experiences of migrants and to inform policy and the development of programs to support elderly migrants.