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Retirement Migration, the Other Story: the Lived Experiences of Vulnerable, Older British Migrants in Spain

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Retirement Migration, the Other Story: the Lived Experiences of Vulnerable, Older British Migrants in Spain Retirement Migration, The Other Story: The Lived Experiences of Vulnerable, Older British Migrants in Spain Kelly Hall A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of Nottingham Trent University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy This research programme was carried out in collaboration with Age Concern January 2011 Abstract Over the last few decades, Spain has become a popular retirement destination for British nationals. Most retire abroad when they are healthy; however, happy and fulfilling retired lives in Spain can abruptly change when a person‟s resources (bodily, economic and social) for independent living diminish. Therefore, the onset of old age can bring about severe vulnerability and the need for additional support becomes vital. This study looks at the lived experiences of vulnerable, older members of the British community as they age in Spain, focusing on those who are in serious need of help and support. It examines the nature of difficulties faced, as well as the networks and services that support these individuals. This thesis is a product of collaboration between academics and Age Concern in the UK and Spain. Through a survey of enquiries to Age Concern España and narrative interviews with vulnerable, older British households in Spain, the research examined the challenges and crises faced as a result of ageing, which tend to be centred on a decline in health, the need for care, bereavement and insufficient financial resources. These are common difficulties faced by many older people; however, this thesis looks at these challenges within the context of living in Spain where language, culture and legal barriers restrict access to support. Vulnerability largely arose due to the limited availability of and access to health/care services, as well as financial support in Spain. However, the ability to cope with vulnerability or a crisis also depended on the availability of social networks for support. The Grid and Group theoretical framework was utilised to examine the ways in which vulnerable, older British people in Spain respond to challenges or crises by drawing upon their social networks for support. This is the first time the framework has been used to look at vulnerability and support in old age. The findings of this study have been used to promote the needs of vulnerable older British people in Spain through a series of policy recommendations, as well as recommendations for good practice utilised by Age Concern España and other voluntary organisations in Spain. 2 Acknowledgements I would like to thank all of those people who gave me the possibility to complete this thesis. I want to thank the ESRC and Age Concern for funding the research in the first instance, and to Anna Garrett and Jacqui Morrissey from Age Concern England for their ongoing help and support. I would also like to express great thanks to all of the volunteers at Age Concern España for giving me access to their clients and assisting me in undertaking the survey. Everyone did a wonderful job and without you this research would not have been possible. I would especially like to thank Judy Arnold-Boakes, Angela Keay and Eileen Dry for their ongoing hospitality and much needed support during my visits to Spain. I am deeply indebted to my supervisors Prof. Irene Hardill and Dr Andrew Yip whose help, encouragement and stimulating suggestions have helped me conduct my fieldwork and write this thesis. Finally, I would like to express special thanks to my mum and dad for their support, and my partner Richard whose support and advice has kept me going for the past five years. 3 Table of Contents List of Figures ..................................................................................................................... 7 Chapter 1 - Introduction ...................................................................................................... 8 1.1 Background ........................................................................................................... 8 1.1.2 Retirement Migration to Spain..................................................................... 10 1.2 Aims and Objectives ........................................................................................... 16 1.3 Outline of the Thesis ........................................................................................... 17 Chapter 2 – The Social and Support Networks of Vulnerable Older British People in Spain ................................................................................................................................. 19 2.1 Vulnerability and Quality of Life in Old Age ..................................................... 19 2.2 Social Networks and Support.............................................................................. 28 2.2.1 Social Networks and Social Capital ............................................................ 29 2.2.2 Social Networks in Old Age: Providing Care and Support ........................ 32 2.2.3 Social Networks, Social Capital and Migration: The Creation of Virtual and Transnational Communities .................................................................................. 39 2.2.4 The Transnational Social Networks of Migrants ........................................ 42 2.3 A Typology of Older British Migrants in Spain: The Grid and Group Framework ................................................................................................................................... 49 2.3.1 Using Grid and Group to explore the lived experiences of vulnerable, older British people in Spain .......................................................................................... 53 2.4 Summary ............................................................................................................ 57 Chapter 3 – Ageing in Spain: Support from Health, Care and Welfare Services ............. 58 3.1 Healthcare in Spain for Older British People .................................................... 58 3.1.1 Healthcare Services in Spain ...................................................................... 59 3.1.2 Accessing Healthcare in Spain as a Retired British Migrant ...................... 60 3.1.3 Healthcare and Language ............................................................................ 65 3.2 Social Care in Spain for Older British People ................................................... 66 3.3 Welfare and Residency Rights in Spain............................................................. 71 3.3.1 Pensions and Welfare Benefits ................................................................... 71 3.3.2 Residence Cards and Rights to Residence .................................................. 75 3.4 Returning to the UK ........................................................................................... 76 3.5 Main Areas of Vulnerability Facing Older British People in Spain ................... 80 3.6 Support Services for Older British People in Spain........................................... 86 3.6.1 Age Concern España ................................................................................... 88 3.7 Summary ............................................................................................................ 91 Chapter 4 - Research Design and Methodology ............................................................... 92 4.1 Background ........................................................................................................ 92 4.2 Research Aims and Questions ........................................................................... 93 4.3 The Role of Age Concern .................................................................................. 96 4.3.1 Age Concern England ................................................................................. 96 4.3.2 Age Concern España ................................................................................... 96 4.4 The Research Process ......................................................................................... 97 4.4.3 Sampling Strategies .................................................................................. 100 4.4.4 Securing Access and Collecting Data in Spain ......................................... 101 4 4.5 The Survey of Enquiries .................................................................................. 104 4.6 The In-Depth Narrative Interviews .................................................................. 107 4.7 Ethnographic Observations .............................................................................. 116 4.8 The Case Study Design .................................................................................... 118 4.9 Data Analysis ................................................................................................... 120 4.9.1 Stage One – The Survey Analysis ............................................................ 121 4.9.2 Stage Two – The Interview Analysis ........................................................ 123 4.10 Research Ethics .............................................................................................. 126 4.11 Research Reflections ...................................................................................... 128 4.12 Summary ........................................................................................................ 131 Chapter 5 - Social Networks and Support ....................................................................... 132 5.1
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