Betreuungs- und Pflegebedarf älterer MigrantInnen: Bedarfsabschätzung und Herausforderungen (BEMIG)

The percentage of people aged 65 years and older who were born outside Austria was 14% in 2012, and this number is growing. The ageing of the migrant population is raising issues regarding health and subsequently healthcare of elderly migrants, as well as the demand for care services that accompany this.
BEMIG aims to improve the knowledge on the need for care and support for elderly migrants, their use of support services provided outside the family and the challenges laid down for service providers by a socioculturally diverse society.

Research objectives
Based on a quantitative analysis of existing demographic data, the demand for care and support for the next 5 – 10 years is estimated by taking into account temporary and permanent return and other forms of transnational conduct of life. Furthermore, expert interviews and group discussions with migrants confronted with care needs for the elderly in their families will allow an assessment of existing care services and barriers to their accessibility and usage.

Other research objectives are:

  • qualitative analysis of the relation between care by family members and their participation in education and the labour market
  • qualitative analysis of the entitlements of elderly migrants for care provided outside the family
  • assessment of recent and future role of religious and ethnically oriented providers in elderly care and support
  • investigations on adaptations of care providing facilities in the context of the linguistic, cultural and religious needs of elderly migrants.

The outcome of this project shall serve as a base for target-oriented integration strategies and actions addressing elderly migrants and, overall, give guidance for an integration policy-oriented development in the field of care and support for elderly people in Austria.

Outcomes

  • report on research outcomes
  • report with policy recommendations
  • conference

Project Contact

Bernhard Perchinig Elisabeth Strasser