Social work, older people and migration: an overview of the situation in Sweden

Abstract

The globalisation of international migration is challenging social work practice in general and elder care in particular all across Europe. This article gives insight into social work practice with elderly people in Sweden by focusing on older migrants and their families. The article addresses the changes that Swedish elder care has undergone through the past few decades and how elder care is organised. The cases of two migrant families who care for their elderly relatives are described also in an attempt to draw attention to some of the specific challenges that social work practice with older migrants and their families can pose. The article argues that social work practice with these specific populations needs to become aware of the implications that understandings of ethnic ‘Otherness’ have for how elder care is planned and provided. Moreover, it is argued that the globalisation of international migration we are witnessing across Europe and the ethnic diversity in older populations that it brings about demand that social work is delivered in a more generationally aware way. Aiming to solely increase the social integration of older migrants can end up jeopardizing the social and economic integration of their families.

Keywords:

• Social Work
• Elder Care
• Older Migrants
• Sweden
• Nordic Welfare Model

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research for the support provided; the article has been written as part of a newly launched project titled ‘Identifying needs in elderly clients with migrant backgrounds: are understandings of cross-cultural interaction, ethnic “Otherness” and gender relevant for need assessment practice?’ (Dnr 2010-0666), which is lead by the second author. The first author wishes also to acknowledge the financial support received via the program grant titled ‘Forms of care in later life: Agency, place, time and life course’ awarded by the same funding organization to Prof. Eva Jeppsson Grassman (Dnr 2006-1621).