Maintaining Health in Later Life: Perspectives of Older Indian Migrants in Melbourne, Australia

ISSUES ADDRESSED: Little is known about how older migrants maintain their health, despite health promotion's emphasis on strengthening everyday capacities for well-being. Older Indian migrants are one of Australia's fastest-growing ageing populations, yet existing research has focused predominantly on barriers, disease management and service access. As a result, the health-promoting strategies older migrants already use remain largely invisible in policy and practice. This study addresses this gap by exploring the practices that older Indian migrants in Melbourne employ to maintain their health. METHODS: A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured individual and focus group interviews with 55 India-born adults aged 50+ (32 temporary and 23 permanent migrants) living in Melbourne, Australia. Interviews were undertaken in English, Hindi and Punjabi. RESULTS: Participants identified interconnected practices underpinning everyday health maintenance, including reliance on home remedies; culturally familiar yet adaptive dietary and physical activity routines, including walking; domestic labour and group activities. Community and family networks facilitated motivation and support, while gendered household roles constrained women's capacity for rest and engagement in structured physical activity. CONCLUSION: This study found that older Indian migrants sustain health through home remedies, culturally embedded dietary routines, physical activity and a strong social network. These practices reflect a strengths-based orientation to well-being, drawing on intergenerational knowledge and community support to maintain health in later life. SO WHAT: Health-promotion strategies should work with, rather than replace, the culturally grounded practices older Indian migrants already use. Culturally considerate, family-centred health advice; intergenerational activities and digital media partnerships may enhance healthy ageing.