When we think of migration, or people migrating, we may have an image of citizens from one country leaving to another, or even college students making their way from home to where their university or new job is. A new trend, captured by Forbes, is expanding our understanding of migration by bringing attention to older adults migrating across the US. Guided by the latest Census Bureau report, Forbes writes on a seemingly new phenomenon of older adults moving in significant numbers in America, and labels this trend as the great “domestic migration.”
At first reading of the report, it seems that older adults were much less likely to move than younger adults, which is something that would be in line with conventional thinking. However, upon closer inspection of data trends, a subset of older adults (ages 65 to 74), showed a similar pattern to that of younger adults. Specifically, Florida had the largest migration gain (53,150 annually) while New York had the largest migration loss. These patterns of migration are interesting considering that, as a society, we may believe that older adults tend to be closely rooted to where they are, or where their children are.
Forbes points out that these moves may have become more enticing for some older adults. Some may want to find more accommodating living conditions, a warmer climate, better neighborhoods, or being closer to children that may have moved away. In any case, these moves may prove to be “experimental” in nature; that is, older adults trying something new and perhaps staying there if the appeal pans out.
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Source: Geber, S. (2022). Migration of Older Adults in America. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/sarazeffgeber/2022/09/29/migration-of-older-adults-in-america/?sh=1d7406957e08
