Experiences of vulnerability due to loss of support by aged parents of emigrated children: a hermeneutic literature review

ABSTRACT

In disrupted families due to migration individual members support each other through transnational care. The care is often reciprocal as the members who are left behind support the members who emigrated and in return receive care from the emigrated family members. Aged parents who get left behind, however, often become vulnerable. The hermeneutic literature review shows that social, psychological or emotional and economic vulnerability are experienced. They have to deal with cultural challenges as their children form part of a new culture in their receiving country. Strong feelings of loss, helplessness and loneliness are experienced. The emigration of their children may also contribute to the financial vulnerability of the elderly.

RÉSUMÉ

Dans les familles perturbées par la migration,les membres individuels se soutiennent mutuellement par des soins transnationaux. Les soins sont souvent réciproques, car les membres qui sont laissés pour compte soutiennent les membres qui ont émigré, et en retour reçoivent des soins des membres de la famille émigrés. Cependant les parents âgés qui sont laissés pour compte deviennent souvent vulnérables. La revue de la littérature herméneutique montre que la vulnérabilité sociale, psychologique, émotionelle et économique est expérimentée. Ils doivent faire face à des défis culturels,car leurs enfants font partie d'une nouvelle culture dans leur pays d'accueil. De forts sentiments de perte, d'impuissance et de solitude sont vécus. L'émigration de leur enfants peut également contribuer à la vulnérabilité financière des personnes âgées.

KEYWORDS:

• Elderly
• emigration
• adult children
• left behind
• emotional distress
• loss of support
• future concerns

MOTS-CLÉS:

• Les personnes âgées
• l'émigration
• les enfants adultes
• laissés pour compte
• la détresse émotionelle
• la perte de soutien
• les préoccupations future

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements study conception by I.C.V. and N.C.V.W.; review of the literature by I.C.V.; drafting of the manuscript by I.C.V.; and critical revision by I.C.V. and N.C.V.W.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Irene C. Venter is a unit manager in a sub-acute and rehabilitation centre and postgraduate student in the Department of Nursing Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Neltjie C. van Wyk is a professor in the Department of Nursing Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa. Her research interest is in the field of community nursing science.