Forced migration, older refugees and displacement: Implications for social work as a human rights profession

A world influenced by rapid global transformations and increasing social problems, such as forced migration and displacement of older refugees, influence many aspects of human lives and related caring professions.

Social work as a global profession needs to include adequate critical, global and gerontological perspectives in its practices (Ghazanfareeon Karlsson 2018; Jönsson 2014). The political context of economic, political, and social conditions, which form the living conditions of forcibly displaced older refugees, have not been given proper attention in social work research neither has attention been paid to social work with globally displaced older refugees in relation to forced migration, i.e. older people in war zones, at borders and in refugee camps.

The following questions and task are in focus in the project:

• What is the human and social impact of forced migration on older people?
• Which specific needs make it important for social workers to consider the vulnerability of older displaced refugees?
• How can social work be involved in recognizing the human rights of older displaced refugees and in making changes in the context of war zones, at borders and in refugee camps?