The International Day of Older Persons provides an important opportunity to discuss ageing not only as a biological process but also as a phenomenon shaped by social, economic, and cultural dimensions. Understanding ageing therefore requires considering how older individuals interact with social relations, economic conditions, and cultural belongings, rather than limiting it to individual-level biological changes. With the acceleration of globalization, migration has become a phenomenon that deeply influences the lives of older populations. Elderly migrants simultaneously experience the vulnerabilities associated with both migration and ageing. Consequently, the challenges faced by elderly migrants are not only significant at the individual level but also crucial for societal welfare and social cohesion.

Ageing and migration are often studied separately, yet when considered together they reveal a dual disadvantage. Migration disrupts spatial and social ties, while ageing increases the need for health care, income security, and social support networks. As a result, elderly migrants frequently face greater difficulties in adaptation compared to younger migrants. This multidimensional fragility makes the everyday challenges of elderly migrants more visible.

Among the most pressing issues is access to healthcare. In the context of internal migration, such challenges are linked to insufficient infrastructure, the peripheral location of settlements, and socio-economic constraints. However, international migration creates an even more complex picture. Language barriers, uncertain legal status, and lack of health insurance hinder full integration into healthcare systems. Given that chronic illnesses are more prevalent in this age group, dependence on health services intensifies, further deepening vulnerabilities. In addition, linguistic and cultural barriers complicate daily life for international migrants. The difficulty of learning a new language increases dependency in interactions with formal institutions, while cultural differences reinforce feelings of alienation and weaken social belonging.

These problems have profound implications for social life. In the case of internal migration, elderly individuals may partially rely on kinship and hometown networks to establish social ties, yet such networks are often insufficient to prevent loneliness. For international migrants, challenges are more severe. While younger migrants tend to form new networks through employment or education, elderly migrants often remain confined to household roles due to linguistic and cultural barriers, experiencing significant difficulties in rebuilding their social networks. This isolation amplifies loneliness and triggers mental health problems.

Economic insecurity compounds these challenges. For internal migrants, a lack of formal employment or histories of informal labor often result in ineligibility for pensions. For international migrants, insufficient pension transfers or the inadequacy of pensions in the host country undermine financial independence and reinforce social exclusion.

All these issues are also reflected in family dynamics. Elderly migrants living with their children may face intergenerational conflicts due to cultural differences and diverging lifestyles. In some cases, they become dependent on their children, losing autonomy. Hence, health, cultural adaptation, social relations, economic status, and family dynamics form interrelated spheres that complicate the adaptation process of elderly migrants.

The adaptation processes of elderly migrants unfold differently across contexts. In internal migration, family often emerges as the primary support mechanism. Older individuals migrating from rural to urban areas frequently rely on kinship and hometown ties to adapt to new environments, though economic difficulties and intergenerational differences may limit such solidarity. In international migration, family support becomes even more critical but is often insufficient due to language and cultural barriers. Civil society organizations and migrant associations therefore play a vital role by strengthening social ties and defending rights.

Cultural adaptation also differs across contexts. Internal migrants often preserve their cultural values, while international migrants face more intense encounters with new norms. Some elderly migrants develop hybrid identities by maintaining their own cultural practices while adapting to the host society’s norms. This hybridity can reduce identity conflicts and facilitate sustainable adaptation. Additionally, local governments play varying roles: for internal migrants, access to healthcare, housing, and social services is central, whereas for international migrants, language courses and cultural mediation programs become particularly critical.

These dynamics highlight the necessity of multidimensional approaches in policies targeting elderly migrants. In the context of internal migration, expanding healthcare and social services as well as supporting community-based initiatives are crucial. Such measures can reduce loneliness and social isolation, thereby fostering adaptation. International migration, by contrast, requires more complex responses. Developing elderly-specific modules in language and cultural adaptation programs, as well as strengthening linguistic and cultural mediation within healthcare services, can alleviate inequalities in access. Furthermore, considering migrants’ past labor contributions within pension and social security systems could mitigate the disadvantages stemming from informal labor in internal migration and economic insecurity in international migration.

Conclusion
The International Day of Older Persons represents an important occasion to make the challenges of ageing migrants visible. At the national level, internal migration reshapes older individuals’ social ties, economic security, and access to services. Rural-to-urban migrants often face isolation, difficulties in accessing services, and challenges of spatial belonging. Similarly, as seen in Turkey, large-scale internal migrations toward metropolitan areas generate significant issues of identity and belonging among elderly populations.

In international contexts, language barriers, the non-transferability of social security rights, and cultural incompatibilities further heighten vulnerabilities. The experiences of Turkish migrants in Europe or Latin American elderly migrants in the United States illustrate the need for new social policies addressing the ageing migrant population. Strong family ties, diaspora community networks, civil society initiatives, and inclusive international social policies all represent key resources facilitating adaptation.

Considering migration and ageing together provides a more holistic understanding of elderly migrants’ lived experiences. Supporting their adaptation processes enhances not only individual well-being but also social cohesion and integration. Policies developed at the intersection of ageing and migration will thus be among the most critical steps shaping the future of societies.

References
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