Seniors from Edmonton Somali-Canadian community are faced with social structure and family relationships that are drastically changing. The senior’s routine challenges come in many forms: health problems, communication barriers, educational problems, social problems, recreational problems and economic problems. Although Somali culture extremely values seniors, their current environment is quite different from that of their motherland; therefore, they feel distanced and detached from familiar settings and social community.
Some of the seniors are not able to care for themselves; they depend on family members with numerous challenges and strict circumstances. Many of the community’s seniors just stay indoors due to tight schedules and work commitments of their caregivers.
In fact, many families of the community work two jobs to make ends meet; hence, they cannot tend to the needs of their elderly parents, thereby making the seniors lead a boring life.
If the seniors of the community are
engaged in different activities, their health and morale aspects can change and improve. Some beneficial activities for the seniors may include:
· Get to gather sessions, where the seniors exchange ideas and share concerns
· Taking walks together and visiting important locations of the city
· Participating in community gatherings and talking to youth groups to impart knowledge and experience