Italian Retirees Abroad: New Horizons for Aging and Quality of Life

Aging is increasingly seen not just as a biological process, but as an opportunity to enhance quality of life and well-being. This research, grounded in the life course framework (Elder et al., 2002) and the theory of "successful aging" (Rowe & Kahn, 1997), explores how Italian retirees are redefining aging by migrating to countries with favorable climatic and economic conditions, such as Tunisia, Portugal, Spain, and Albania. These moves are deliberate choices aimed at improving lifestyle and financial stability during retirement.

Fieldwork was conducted in these countries, which have a growing presence of Italian retirees. We spent 10-15 days in each location, conducting 80-90 semi-structured interviews with Italian retirees and key local stakeholders, such as association leaders, Comites representatives, and patronati. While not representative of the entire migrant population, these interviews offer rich insights into the motivations, challenges, and benefits of retirement migration.

The findings reveal that retirees experience significant improvements in quality of life, driven by lower costs of living, favorable tax regimes, and better climates, rather than a deep integration into local communities. This pattern reflects broader trends of transnational aging, where older adults maintain strong ties to their home country while optimizing their lifestyle abroad.

This study expands the sociological understanding of aging and migration by focusing on how Italian retirees reshape the aging process through transnational choices. It contrasts their experiences with more vulnerable elderly populations in Italy and explores the broader implications of lifestyle migration for host countries, particularly regarding the growing demand for eldercare workers.

Our findings contribute to the literature on transnational aging, highlighting how migration in later life can redefine aging as a time of personal growth and well-being.