The social situation of elderly Turkish immigrants in Copenhagen, Denmark.

In the 1960s and 1970s Turkish workers migrated to Denmark, as well as other Western European countries, in pursuit of work. The first Turkish immigrants to Denmark from this period are now beginning to enter the ranks of the elderly. They have not returned home and their families have joined them and settled in Denmark. The question arises as to how they will live out their old age in their new country. This article addresses the social situation of the elderly Turkish immigrants in Copenhagen. An interview study of Turkish immigrants 55 years and older showed that their situation had not changed appreciably in the past decade as regards a number of economic and social variables such as housing. This article analyzes the results of the survey, and suggests some ways of interpreting them, both in terms of theories of modernization and assimilation, and aging as leveler or as a double jeopardy. jg]Key words gw]Migration gw]Elderly immigrants gw]Living conditions gw]Social conditions gw]Denmark gw]Turkish immigrants.