Many older adults are eligible for services in the aging network regardless of their country of birth. The AAA 1-B service region has the highest population of older adult refugees in the state of Michigan.  This outreach has been very positively received by the refugee population and would not have been possible without funding provided by the Michigan Family Independence Agency Refugee Assistance Program and the Office of Services for the Aging.  Refugee groups being targeted by the program include Russian, Bosnian, Asian, Iraqi, Vietnamese and Hmong.

In August of 2004, the AAA 1-B co-sponsored an Outreach Fair with the Chaldean American Ladies of Charity and over 100 older Chaldean adults attended and were provided information on transportation, nutrition, community care management and older adult employment opportunities.  Translators were at the event to interpret presentations and facilitate communication of valuable information between the refugee attendees and the various service groups.  Other events have been held to provide information to Asian, Vietnamese and Hmong older adults.  In spring of 2005 the AAA 1-B will be hosting a fair for Asian Indian older adults. 

According to Tina Abbate Marzolf, Director of DSP and Contract Services at the AAA 1-B, and the staff person overseeing the refugee program, “One of the greatest barriers aging network providers face when working with the older adults refugee population is communication.  The ability to communicate with individuals who do not speak English is crucial.  We have developed several mechanisms for providers to do this.  We will continue to work to address these are other barriers to ensure that older adult refugees access much needed aging network services.”

To help further address the communication barrier the AAA 1-B has also implemented a Language Line service that enables staff at the agency to talk over the telephone with individuals who do not speak English with the assistance of a translator.  Additionally information on care management, public assistance, legal services, nutrition and transportation has been translated into Bosnian, Arabic, Vietnamese, Spanish and Russian.  For more information on upcoming refugee events, to find out about available services or to receive translated materials please call the AAA 1-B at 1-800-852-7795.