Late-Life Migration to Israel as an Ambivalent Process: Identity, Belonging, and Adaptation Among Older French...

Migration in later life is a growing global phenomenon, raising important questions about identity, belonging, and adaptation in old age. This study explores the experiences of older adults from France who migrated to Israel (i.e. undertaking Aliyah) after the age of 65, focusing on how they make sense of this transition within the context of ageing. Using an interpretative phenomenological approach, this qualitative study draws on in-depth interviews with twelve participants in Israel (ten women and two men aged 70 and older). Rather than treating motivations, challenges, and well-being as separate domains, the analysis examines migration as a complex meaning-making process shaped by the intersection of life-course trajectories, family relationships, and cultural identity. The findings reveal an ambivalent dynamic at the core of later-life Aliyah. While migration involved substantial disruption to familiar social worlds, participants consistently interpreted it as the fulfilment of a lifelong identity project centred on family, Jewish identity, and belonging. Although they experienced persistent linguistic, social, and institutional challenges, these did not diminish their strong sense of attachment to Israel. Instead, the findings suggest that emotional belonging and everyday integration may follow different trajectories in later life, contributing to a more nuanced understanding of identity return among older immigrants. This study contributes to the literature on ageing and migration by offering a nuanced understanding of late-life mobility as a process of identity negotiation rather than simple adaptation (or its absence). It also provides insights for policymakers and practitioners supporting older immigrants, emphasizing the need to address both structural barriers and the importance of continuity, belonging, and meaningful relationships in later life.