Responding to Changes: Experiences of Older Migrants Leaving Poland
Judith McKeon *
De Montfort University, The Gateway, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This paper explores the impact of political changes on an older Polish generation, which has led to their migratory journey to the UK. The study was conducted with 35 participants throughout the UK using an oral history approach. Thirty were over the age of 45 when they migrated, and the others were all aged over 45 when they were interviewed in 2010 and 2011. As the paper shows, employment opportunities and the feeling of being unwanted in their homeland play a significant role in decisions of older people to migrate. The emotional effect of leaving their homeland may, however, have wider implications. Satisfaction with their current circumstances in the UK may be due to their age and past experiences but a majority were not happy and this may impact on their psychological well-being. More research into the effect on mental health of economic migrating when older is recommended.
Keywords: EU enlargement, older migration, transition, mental health, psychological wellbeing, Polish workers.