Care Relations and Negotiation of Independence within the Context of Migration (The Case of the Turkish Community in London)

Abstract

Despite its centrality to social care discourse, independence remains an understudied notion, especially in regard to care relations of older adults. This is especially important in the context of global migration, changing family dynamics, and reformation of care policies in the global North that adds to the complexity of the notion of independence and experience of it amongst migrant older adults. Drawing on 62 semi-structured individual interviews with the older Turkish migrants in London and service providers for the community, the paper seeks to present an understanding of older Turkish adults ‘negotiating of independence in relation to social networks as informal supports and formal care supports within the community. It is argued that independence is a fluid and complex concept influenced by communities’ and individuals’ attitudes and one which is constantly being negotiated within available formal and informal supports. Findings also show variation in conceptualization of independence and experiences of it amongst different groups of the Turkish community in London according to migration origin, migration path, time of arrival to the UK, and levels of adaptation to British society.

Keywords

• Care relations
• International migration
• Ageing
• Independence
• Ethnic minority older adults

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