Local seniors create a sense of community with refugees
It was only lunch. For a few hours, they talked about life; they shared stories, listened to a piano performance and enjoyed a delicious meal. Some had coffee to take off the chill - as Illinois winters are colder than the countries where many of them are from - while others enjoyed hot tea. For a few hours, this group of seniors forgot they were thousands of miles away from their homeland and separated from their friends, family and a familiar way of life.
At least, that's what residents at Windsor Park were hoping.
Windsor Park, a Covenant Retirement Community, invited senior refugees resettled through World Relief DuPage/Aurora to have lunch with about a dozen residents. The English-speaking men and women were from Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Bhutan and Ukraine, and they are part of a growing number of refugees acclimating to life in the United States.
By all accounts, being a refugee isn't easy; but being a senior refugee can be especially challenging, says Tim Kustusch, Partnership Manager for World Relief, an organization that serves refugees and immigrants in Aurora and DuPage counties.
"Older adults face some of the biggest challenges when they come to the United States," says Kustusch. "Aside from having to learn a new language, they experience more feelings of isolation, and it can be difficult for them to adapt to their new status within an American community."
Younger refugees are more adept at learning a new language because they are immersed in the culture via work, school and other social opportunities not readily available to older adults, Kustusch explains. Coming from communities where with a person's age comes a level of reverence, Kustusch says senior refugees can feel a sense of loss because American culture doesn't always correlate age with status. And, he adds, seniors can also feel more isolated as younger family members acclimate more quickly to the culture and begin spending less time at home.
"The refugees were so excited to get dressed up and get out in the community for a new experience," says Kustusch. "The visit to Windsor Park provided an opportunity for them to go out, enjoy themselves, and connect with their peers."
"We were honored to have them here," adds Windsor Park Resident Services Director Hannah Meyers. "Reaching out to the community in hopes of making a positive difference is what our residents do. The experience created joy and connected people who once were cultures apart, but are now neighbors. We look forward to having them back."
Windsor Park and World Relief DuPage/Aurora are familiar neighbors. Staff members from World Relief are regular presenters for the Windsor Park Center for Lifelong Learning programming, during which they share expertise on immigration reform and the Christian response to war and poverty.
For more information about Windsor Park or the Windsor Park Center for Lifelong Learning's upcoming programs, call 877-836-5664 or visit www.WindsorParkIllinois.org. For more information on World Relief, visit www.worldreliefdupageaurora.org.
About Windsor Park
Windsor Park, a faith-based, not-for-profit, continuing care retirement community, is located at 124 Windsor Park Dr., Carol Stream, Ill. It is administered by Covenant Retirement Communities, one of the nation's largest not-for-profit senior services providers. Covenant Retirement Communities serves 5,000 residents at 14 retirement communities nationwide and is a ministry of the Evangelical Covenant Church. For more information on Windsor Park, call 877-836-5664 or visit www.WindsorParkIllinois.org.