Check out our latest E-newsletter and learn about:
1. How Fables Prevent Elder Financial Abuse
2. 15 Ways Families Take Advantage of Seniors
3. Tips To Move Past Embarrassment after being conned
4. Why Afghan Seniors Say Self Respect is A Great Prevention Tool
So Check it out: October 2010 E-newsletter
Kamlesh Sethi Tells Punjabi Fable About a Monkey & 2 Cats
As part of the Elders Financial Abuse Awareness Dialogue Project, Finding Home dialogue participants receive culturally relevant resource kits and meet community resource people. Today Afghan seniors, from Immigrant Services Society, met with Steve, an RCMP Auxillary Constable; Panteha Aghili, BC211 Information & Referral Manager; and Alana Prochuk, BC Centre for Elder Advocacy and Support Educational and Program Outreach Coordinator.
Steve explained the difference between calling 911 and Community Policing. He also described what elder fraud can look like in the community & within the family and how the police can help.
One of the Afghan seniors said, “I have been in Canada 13 years and I only learned about 911 recently.” For some Afghan seniors, today was the first time they learned about how the police can help. At the end of the session another senior explained, “Normally, I am afraid of police. Meeting Constable Steve made me feel safe. Now I know I can call the police for help.”
Panteha Aghili, fromBC211, explained their multi-lingual information and referral services as well as VictimLINk, their confidential phone service to support victims of crimes. Finally, Alana Prochuk, from BC Centre for Elder Advocacy and Support, explained how they assist seniors through their community education programs, thier Legal Programs, and thei Victim Services Program.
At the end of the session, one Afghan senior exclaimed, “I appreciated today so much. Learning about all these community resources. It is like all the darkness is getting brighter.”
Constable Steve Explains 9-1-1 Service
For more info on the Elders Financial Abuse Awareness Dialogue Project read more blog posts:
How To Spot A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing
Recovering From Con Artists – Seniors Share Their Stories
Seniors Counsel for Elders Financial Abuse Awareness Dialogue Project
The Art of Convening and Hosting Dialogues
Building a Safety Net – Elder Abuse Prevention
Posted by Jenni-Leigh Harder
“We were used to seeing the West in the movies or magazines. When we moved to Canada, we had no money, no bed and only one bedroom for the whole family. It took us a while to have money even for a bed. This was a very different reality than we though it would be.” ~dialogue participant
For many Afghan seniors, finding home in Canada involves learning to compromise. These compromises varied from having to learn to understand difference in opinion about appropriate dress with grandchildre, to learning a new language, to understanding that ideas of the ‘West’ and living in the ‘West’ were romanticized. For some, finding home took effort and time. In the end, these Afghan seniors, say that with compromise, they have found home in British Columbia.
Here are some quotes on how they define their home:
“Where we feel comfortable and in communication with our other family members. We share our GOOD and BAD times, we share or WEALTH and our POVERTY, if we are SICK or HEALTHY, they cooperate with use and we share everything. ”
“Home is emotional safety”
“I studied in a lot of countries when I was in school in the US. Canada is the first choice of mine, this is a multicultural country and this is where I look too. I look at Canada as my second hope and I hope to go back to Afghanistan but now Canada is home for me now.”
To learn more about Finding Home Seniors Dialogues and the Elder Financial Abuse Awareness Dialogue Project, read these related Blog posts:
Afghan Seniors And Police Build Bridges
Afghan Seniors Speak On Canadian Courtesy
10 red flags you might be dealing with a WOLF
