Over the past few years, Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas’ Services for Older Refugees (SOR) program has supported refugees ages 60 and older. Many of these clients are often unable to work due to age, illness, trauma and/or language barriers. These barriers can put them in a difficult position handling rent and utility fees, learning a new language and achieving stability in their new country.
One of the largest barriers our SOR clients experience is social isolation. Social isolation and loneliness play a significant role in the mental and physical health of older adults. The SOR program has developed relationships with community partners to ensure our clients can attend in-person classes as well as other social activities to minimize their time alone. Through our partnership with Midland Care PACE, we have been able to set up transportation for our clients in Wyandotte County to attend in-person English civics classes twice a week.
Our class offerings go beyond teaching English to these seniors. Our classes provide clients with a space to have fellowship and community with their peers. They also provide opportunities to learn about local programming, access to a local Family Support Center (FSC) food pantry and an opportunity to have an in-person case management session after class. Classes are often the only time many of these clients leave the house each week.
Another partnership that has been extremely beneficial in combating social isolation for the older refugee population has been the Nelson Atkins Art Museum. Through the Community and Access program at the Nelson Atkins, we have been able to conduct quarterly civics-inspired art classes and curated field trips. Our clients enjoy these field trips so much that it is not uncommon for them to ask us when the next event is. Many also display artwork from the museum at their homes and are eager to show it off during routine home-visit case management appointments.
Opportunities to support our clients beyond case management and the classroom through social activities are often overlooked. We appreciate the opportunity to learn from our clients at these events and see how social interaction plays an important part in their experience of feeling integrated into their new communities here in the U.S.
Below is a photo from a recent field trip to Nelson Atkins. During a curated tour to visit an African art display, clients could view art from their home country. Also pictured are photos from recent social events for the SOR program.
