Migration of older adults as a transnational family strategy

Transcarpathian migrants in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County

Abstract

The increasing international migration of older adults, both globally and in Hungary, is primarily associated with situations where older adults relocate from higher-income countries to regions offering more affordable living conditions. In contrast, our research focuses on older adults resettling from Transcarpathia to Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg county in Hungary, particularly to villages near border crossings. Unlike the global trend, they are moving from a less developed region to a country characterized by higher living costs.

Our study examines the complex nature of this migration process, including the motivations behind the relocation of older adults from Transcarpathia to Hungary, the selection of new residences, and the impact on the receiving communities.

According to our findings, one of the primary reasons for the relocation of older adults is to obtain Hungarian pension eligibility, which requires a registered residence and stay in Hungary. Prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, this often did not mean permanent relocation; properties, often in poor condition but affordable, were typically used as temporary residences. However, since February 2022, many older adults have relocated permanently and have made renovations to their properties to accommodate other family members if necessary. Based on our field experience, those Transcarpathians, mostly of Hungarian descent, who cannot afford property in larger towns farther from the border, or those who have adopted a dual residence lifestyle, are the ones who choose to settle closer to the border. Since 2022, the main motivation for relocation and the selection of a new home has been to create a safe place for the family, a refuge, as close to the border as possible. Therefore, Transcarpathians purchasing properties in this area are settling in the border region of Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg county as part of a multi-generational family strategy.