Triple absence and the crisis of presence: Ethnographic reflections on migrants with dementia in Australia
Author Identifier (ORCID)
Simone Marino: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6349-6013
Abstract
Older migrants with dementia face layered vulnerabilities in aged-care systems, particularly concerning cultural identity and belonging. Previous research on double absence among Italian migrants in Australia describes how geographical displacement and cultural estrangement produce liminal experiences of belonging. This article extends that concept by theorizing triple absence, focusing on migrants with dementia. As they age out of place, gaps in culturally safe care, both endogenous and exogenous, contribute to a loss of selfhood and increased risk of social death. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork and two case studies, the article explores Comusichiamo, a culturally tailored music and narrative program that fosters social reinhabitation. It demonstrates how embodied memory and cocreated storytelling can reassert personhood, restore cultural presence, and strengthen social ties. The study offers a conceptual framework for understanding dementia as a culturally situated experience shaped by migration, identity, and care.
Keywords
Migrants, dementia, cultural identity, social isolation, aged care, ethnography
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
1-1-2026
Publication Title
Journal of Anthropological Research
Publisher
University of Chicago Press
School
School of Education
Copyright
subscription content
Comments
Marino, S. (2026). Triple absence and the crisis of presence: Ethnographic reflections on migrants with dementia in Australia. Journal of Anthropological Research. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1086/740854