ABSTRACT
Migration of adult children can have both beneficial and adverse effects on the health outcomes of left-behind elderly parents. This study intends to investigate the effects of adult children’s migration on the perception of health and suffering from disabilities among the elderly left behind in Tamil Nadu, using the Tamil Nadu Migration Survey (TMS) data, 2015. The findings demonstrate that the relocation of adult children has a favourable relationship with self-rated health among older people left behind, even if these people are also more likely to have disabilities related to their vision, mobility, cognition, self-care, and communication-related disability. Positive self-rated health outcomes are linked to an income effect due to the remittance which leads to improvements in diet, financial security, better hygiene, and sanitation facility. Out-migration of adult children reduces the number of caregivers and helping hands of the elderly, which might be the reason for more suffering in vision, mobility, cognition, self-care, and communication-related disability. Family bonds and relationships need to be strengthened in order to lessen disability suffering and increase the well-being of older people who are left behind.
