International Migrants Day — why migration matters for older people and family carers in Nigeria

 International Migrants Day — why migration matters for older people and family carers in Nigeria

Every year on 18 December, the world marks International Migrants Day — a moment to recognise the millions of people who move for work, safety, family or opportunity. Migration shapes economies, families and care systems. For Nigeria, migration is both a lifeline and a challenge: remittances sustain households, while the departure of adults (and sometimes health workers) can leave older relatives at home more vulnerable. (United Nations)

The numbers (short and simple)

Globally, roughly 281 million people live outside the country where they were born — about 3.6% of the world’s population. Migration is therefore a normal part of modern life, not an exception. At the same time, migration routes can be dangerous — thousands of people die or disappear each year attempting to move, a reminder that safe, legal pathways matter. (EMRO)

In Nigeria, the diaspora is large and influential. In recent years, the country has received tens of billions of dollars in remittances — money sent home by Nigerians abroad — which support families, pay for healthcare, and help keep older relatives afloat when incomes at home are uncertain. National surveys and migration reports also show significant cross-border movement and internal displacement that affect family structures and who provides care for older people. (Businessday NG)

What migration means for older people and family carers

Migration reshapes the traditional family safety net. Where adult children move for work, older parents may gain financial support but lose nearby daily help. That can mean:

• More money for medicines and food, yet less day-to-day assistance with tasks like bathing, shopping or taking medication.

• Greater reliance on neighbours, extended family or paid carers — sometimes at short notice.

• Emotional strain and loneliness for older people separated from children and grandchildren.

At the same time, the emigration of health workers can reduce local capacity for nursing and clinical support — a structural issue that increases pressure on families caring for elders. Research on older persons in Nigeria highlights growing numbers of older adults and gaps in social and health services that family carers must fill. (researchprotocols.org)

Practical responses: community, policy and nurse-led care

Policy-makers, communities and service providers need to work in three complementary ways:

1. Support safe migration and remittance channels, so money and advice reach older relatives reliably. (Businessday NG)

2. Invest in local care capacity, including training and retaining nurses and home-care staff so families have trusted professionals nearby. (researchprotocols.org)

3. Design services that help the ‘left-behind’ elderly — telehealth check-ins, community volunteers, and culturally sensitive home visits reduce isolation and risk.

How EOON Care responds — C.A.R.E. in action

At EOON Care we place nurse-led home care at the centre of that practical response. Our nurses assess clinical needs, coordinate with families (including those abroad), and provide hands-on support that money alone cannot buy: companionship, medication management and skilled care planning. We live by C.A.R.E. — Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Excellence — so remittances and family support are matched with quality professional care when distance or health systems leave gaps.

A real-world angle

Imagine a retired teacher in Enugu whose daughter works in London. Remittances pay the bills, but daily help dwindles. A nurse-led home visit from EOON Care provides medication review, mobility support, and a care plan that keeps the teacher safer and eases the family’s worries — a small intervention with big impact. This is the kind of practical bridge migration trends demand. (See national migration and ageing reports for wider context.) (National Bureau of Statistics)

Share to raise awareness

International Migrants Day calls for both gratitude and action: recognise migrants’ contributions, protect the vulnerable who remain, and build care systems that work for families wherever they are. Please share this post to raise awareness of the connection between migration and elder care — together, we can ensure older Nigerians are not left behind.

10 relevant hashtags
#InternationalMigrantsDay #ElderCareNigeria #MigrantFamilies #NurseLedCare #EOONCare #CareMatters #DiasporaSupport #CaringAcrossBorders #AgeingWell #MigrationAndHealth