Between Love and Duty: Family Ambivalence among Ageing Filipino Caregivers in Italy

Abstract Italy, whose population is the second oldest in the world, faces increasing pressure on its long-term care infrastructure, largely mitigated by its reliance on migrant women caregivers. Among them, Filipino women have emerged as a central and long-established labour force within Italy’s eldercare system. Many are now ageing themselves—continuing to work well beyond retirement age while supporting families across borders through remittances. This research investigates the ageing experiences of Filipino caregivers in Italy, focusing on how family obligations shape their later life. Drawing on 20 in-depth interviews and participant observation in Bologna and Modena, the study explores how ageing is negotiated through moral sacrifice, the deferral of personal needs, and enduring transnational commitments. Theoretical insights from transnational ageing, family ambivalence, and moral obligation guide the analysis, revealing how these women age as both caregivers and migrants, often without adequate welfare protections or familial support. Family emerges as a paradoxical structure—providing emotional meaning yet constraining autonomy and rest. The research challenges normative models of ageing as disengagement or retirement, highlighting instead how work continues to structure the lives of older migrant women. By centring their voices, the study contributes to broader debates on ageing, migration, and care in contemporary Europe.