Effects of Personal Ability and Social Welfare on the Health of Rural-to-Urban Elderly Migrants: An Empirical Analysis from Jiangsu Province, China

This study aims to discuss the relationship between personal endowment and social welfare on the health status of the rural-to-urban elderly migrants. It constructed the theoretical framework of the health vulnerability of rural-to-urban elderly migrants. The health status of rural-to-urban elderly migrants was divided into three dimensions: physical health, mental health, and social adaptation. A total of 658 rural-to-urban elderly migrants in 12 cities of Jiangsu province were selected as samples for empirical test and analyzed the influence of individual endowments and social welfare on the health status of rural-to-urban elderly migrants and their differences. The result shows that personal ability affects the social adaptation ability of rural-to-urban elderly migrants, and social welfare has a significant influence on the physical and mental health of rural-to-urban elderly migrants. Lacking the learning ability of rural-to-urban elderly migrants in sample areas is the main factor that leads to their low social adaptation ability and the unequal social welfare and public services restricting the physiological and mental health status of rural-to-urban elderly migrants.

Do Migration Characteristics Influence the Utilization of Basic Public Health Services in Internal Elderly Migrants in China?

Background: The literature shows that migration characteristics are a potential pathway through which migration can influence basic healthcare service utilization. The goal of the study was to explore the effect of migration characteristics on the utilization of basic public health services for internal elderly migrants in China and to identify the pathways that might promote their utilization of basic public health services.Methods: We studied 1,544 internal elderly migrants. The utilization of basic public health services was determined through participation in free health checkups organized by community health service institutions in the past year. Migration characteristics were represented by years of residence and reasons for migration. Other variables included demographic characteristics and social factors, e.g., the number of local friends and exercise time per day were measured to represent social contacts. Multivariate binary logistic regression was employed to explore the association of the variables with the likelihood of using community health services.Results: A total of 55.6% of respondents were men, and the mean age was 66.34 years (SD 5.94). A low level of education was observed. A total of 59.9% of migrants had been residents for over 10 years, and the main reason for migrating was related to family. Of these migrants, 12.9% had no local friends. Furthermore, 5.2% did not exercise every day. Social contacts were complete mediators of the impact of migration characteristics on the utilization of primary healthcare.Conclusion: Our study highlighted the mediating role of social factors in the relationship between migration characteristics and the utilization of basic public health services among Chinese internal elderly migrants. The findings supported the need to increase the opportunities for social contacts between local elderly individuals and internal elderly migrants.

Mask Use pattern, Public Perception and Barriers to Effective Mask Usage-A battle far from over

Background & Objective: Proper mask wearing reduces the transmissibility and risk of Covid-19 infection still compliance to mask use is low. This study was conducted to observe the mask usage pattern, perception and barriers to effective mask usage (EMU). Settings and Design: This cross-sectional study was conducted in collaboration with district police administration to observe mask usage pattern in various crowded places. Methods and Material: Participants from general public (n=6995) in 10 preselected areas of city were observed and then interviewed about their perceptions about EMU. Indirect observation of EMU was also done by screening CCTV footage, followed by another set of observation at same places after conducting a health education campaign. Data was entered in Microsoft excel and analyzed using SPSS. P value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: EMU was seen in nearly 62% participants. Younger age, native population, education above matric, persons driving two & four wheelers, had significantly higher compliance. During CCTV observation, EMU was 57.5%, and was highest near public places, roads and intersections while lowest near bus stand and religious places. Some improvement in compliance was seen after health education at these places. Breathing difficulty, no use of wearing mask and feeling uncomfortable were the most common reasons given by participants for non-compliance.Conclusions: EMU was lower in elderly, migrants, less educated, unemployed, daily wage workers, so these groups should be especially sensitized about preventive measures. There is need for extensive public education to bring out behavioral change regarding proper mask wearing to control this pandemic and prevent further waves.

Correlation between Elderly Migrants’ Needs and Environmental Adaptability: A Discussion Based on Human Urbanization Features

Building concentrated resettlement community in small towns is mostly used to deal with resettlement construction for rural migrants in economically developed regions in China, which leads to migrants’ living environment changing from rural settlements where production and living are intertwined to an urban community that only supports living functions. However, the urbanized environment is contrary to elderly migrants’ behavior, resulting in contradictions or conflicts between migrants and resettlement communities, reflecting a lack of urbanization synchronization between migrants and resettlement community environments. Further, elderly migrants are also equipped with different degrees and types of urbanization characteristics, thus reflecting different abilities to adapt to the urban community environment. Based on the corresponding relationship between people’s different production and living needs and urbanization, this research starts by investigating the production and living needs of elderly migrants, and further clarifies the environmental adaptability of elderly migrants by sorting the types and characteristics of urbanization of elderly migrants to provide a reference basis for the planning and construction of future resettlement areas. The research uses questionnaires and semi-structured interviews to investigate the population attributes and characteristics of elderly migrants, as well as their different needs for production and living. The research uses hierarchical cluster analysis, the one-way ANOVA test and Chi-square test to constructed a four-quadrant model on human urbanization features: an Urban Group with both living and production urbanized (Group H-H); a Half-urban-half-rural Group with only living needs urbanized (Group H-L); a Half-urban-Half-rural Group with only production needs urbanized (Group L-H); and a Rural group with both living and production needs not urbanized (Group L-L). Finally, based on the results, this research proposed three elderly environment construction orientations of “Promote the Supply Level of Urban Public Services”, “Create a Place That Embodies the Spirit of Immigrants’ Homeland”, and “Moderate Consideration of Agricultural Production Needs” for residential planning.

Experiences of elderly migrants in a new country

International elderly migration is characterized by the movement of elderly people from their home countries to settle in new countries either as migrants in search of better opportunities or as refugees forced to flee as a result of unpleasant circumstances such as war. In their new countries elderly migrants face both pleasant experiences and challenges that may affect their settlement and integration in the new societies. The challenges include language difficulties, culture shock, loneliness, difficulties in accessing social and health services facilities, and inadequate support systems. Various policies in the new countries impact on the settlement outcome of this group. Upon retirement some elderly migrants remain in their new countries, others relocate back to their original countries, or live in both countries at different seasons of the year. This article explores the elderly migration experiences and the support systems that could assist the well-being of this population.

Polypharmacy and drug misuse in elderly migrants: care practice and interprofessional collaboration

Background Polypharmacy is associated with an increased risk of falls and adverse events in the elderly. Factors such as inappropriate infrastructure for resolving language barriers can make people with migration backgrounds more vulnerable to polypharmacy. This study aimed to assess barriers in the drug therapy of elderly migrants and to obtain input for an e-health application supporting medication management and interprofessional communication. Methods 10 expert interviews were conducted with health professionals working with chronically ill patients of Turkish descent. The sample included physicians, pharmacists, social workers and nursing professionals. The interviews were analyzed using structuring content analysis. Results Respondents perceived language barriers and discontinuities in medication prescription as key problems in the drug therapy of elderly migrants. Changes in the brand of medication prescribed were highlighted as particularly damaging to patient-provider relationships. Interprofessional communication was deemed important, with physicians and pharmacists expressing dissatisfaction in this area. Some respondents saw potential in the e-health application, while others cited concerns about data protection or the digital capabilities of elderly migrants. Conclusions Healthcare professionals may require support in providing information in a variety of languages. Additionally, more interprofessional collaboration is desired but it is necessary to first establish better channels of communication. An e-health application could help achieve clearer communication between stakeholders. However, it is necessary to work in close cooperation with professionals when designing the application to ensure that it can be implemented in practice. Key messages Language barriers and inconsistent prescription practices harm patient-provider relationships. Better channels of communication are needed to provide less fragmented care to elderly migrants.

Polypharmacy in elderly migrants: perspectives of chronically ill migrants on E-Health-Applications

Background Polypharmacy occurs frequently among the elderly and is associated with an increased risk of falls and medication-related adverse events. Especially people with migration backgrounds may receive inappropriate medication due to language barriers or experiences of discrimination in healthcare. This study aimed to assess barriers to drug therapy in elderly migrants and to generate user experience data for the development of an e-health application. Methods 10 interviews, respectively, with chronically ill individuals of Turkish descent and with family caregivers. The 20 interviews were analyzed qualitatively by means of structuring content analysis. Results Medication is connected to uncertainty for respondents and most are affected by polypharmacy. Medication is not always taken regularly, especially among respondents living transnationally. Adherence depends on trust and the quality of doctor-patient relationships. The number of medications required and their side effects are a source of dissatisfaction, but elderly migrants develop a variety of coping strategies. Smartphone use is common among respondents and they are open to using an application for medication prescription and intake management. Conclusions Interprofessional care teams are needed in order to reduce uncertainty regarding medication management, to improve health literacy and to strengthen alliances between stakeholders. Additionally, collaboration between diversity-sensitive nursing care specialists and physicians is needed to provide accessible information, thus improving continuity of intake and adherence. E-health applications have the potential to improve medication management and information exchange between all stakeholders, thus facilitating correct medication use. Key messages Diversity-sensitive care can improve drug therapy for elderly migrants by removing language, information and trust barriers. Elderly migrants are open to web-applications for medication management.