THE SOCIAL NETWORKS OF OLDER MIGRANTS IN LUXEMBOURG: STRUCTURE SUPPORT AND CHALLENGES TO OLD AGE

摘要

Studies on social relations have shown the importance of categories such as class, gender, and health in the composition of the social networks of older people. Although ethnicity has been taken into account (Ajrouch, 2007, 2008), we still know very little about if and how migration influences the development of older migrants’ networks, and if and how it shapes the exchange of emotional and practical support. The present qualitative study sheds light on this question, by analysing the egocentric social support networks (Kahn & Antonucci, 1980) of 35 individuals aged 65+, who migrated to Luxembourg in early adulthood, coming from Italy, Portugal, Germany, Belgium, and France. The results show that although older migrants have transnational and spread networks, their interpersonal interactions are mainly with co-nationals, with whom they share the same language and cultural background. The exchange of support is challenged by economic restrictions in interacting at distance, by the return of close friends after retirement, and by their low mobility when becoming very old and fragile. The study goes beyond the discussion on transnational care delivered by migrant family members (Baldassar & Merla, 2014), giving visibility to the support provided by non-kin, as neighbours and friends.