DECODE-MigCare · Decolonizing Long Term Care for Ageing Migrants in Malta through Co-Design and Evaluation

Europe's rapidly ageing population, with 30% projected to be 65+ by 2050, coincides with first-generation Sub-Saharan African (SSA) migrants reaching long-term care (LTC) eligibility. Despite facing linguistic barriers, institutional discrimination, and cultural misalignment with European care models, SSA migrants remain largely invisible in LTC policy and practice.Research Objectives: DECODE-MigCare is the first project to systematically apply decolonial theory to LTC for ageing SSA migrants in Europe, pursuing three core objectives: (1) conduct a comprehensive policy audit and cultural mapping of Malta's LTC system; (2) co-design culturally responsive care models through participatory workshops with migrant elders and stakeholders; and (3) implement and evaluate pilot interventions for sustainable policy integration. Methodological innovations include the Cultural Audit Index, Dialogues for Change, an intergenerational knowledge transfer and advocacy platform using participatory digital storytelling, and Participatory Visual Ethnography. These approaches position migrants as co-creators and custodians of care knowledge, not passive study subjects. A non-academic placement at AGE Platform Europe will provide direct policy engagement experience and strengthen advocacy skills for migrant rights in ageing policy at the EU level.Expected Impact: This fellowship will establish the fellow's leadership in migration-ageing research while delivering groundbreaking outcomes, the first of their kind in the EU: a validated DECODE-MigCare Toolkit, a community-governed care prototype, a policy roadmap embedding epistemic justice, and a postgraduate curriculum. The placement will enhance the fellow's policy translation skills and European network, positioning them for future research leadership in culturally responsive LTC across Europe. DECODE-MigCare offers a scalable, innovative approach for culturally appropriate LTC policy in Malta and potentially scalable across Europe.