Elderly people with immigrant background is a social group in high risk of social isolation among other things because of language barriers. Language difficulties bring with it a line of problems, for example low self-esteem, inaction, a sense of loss of social and personal status and frustration. Psycological problems such as social isolation and low self-esteem can also affect the physical health of the elderly. Elderly immigrants is furthermore a neglected group, since many integration-programmes focus on employment and education.

'Strandstuen' is a co-operation between the drop-in centre Strandstuen and Kvarterløft Brøndby Strand. Strandstuen is aimed at elderly residents with immigrant background in Brøndby Strand, since this group of people is in risk of isolation. The project is an integrated policy effort with the purpose of strenghtening integration and breaking the social isolation among elderly with immigrant background. Focus is on both social, cultural and physical aspects of the lifes of the elderly. In the project the staff has worked with developing new ideas and methods for working with the elderly. Among other things, the work of searching for participants, through for example home visit, has proved to be an efficient way to recruit elderly people since it has created trust among the different parties.

'Strandstuen' works on 3 levels, which is to recruit, activate and integrate the elderly of immigrant background. Associations, organisations, proffessionals and other individuals takes care of recruiting, through a.o. home visits. In the drop-in centre the elderly are being activated through language classes, hobby activities, cultural excursions, exercise etc. Spending time with other elderly of diverse ethnicity helps break the isolation of the elderly and integrate them in the local community and society in general.

Ethnic retired people.

'Strandstuen' has established contact to more than 150 elderly people with immigrant background and many different ethnic groups are using Strandstuen -The Beach House.

The project primarily benefits the elderly with other ethnic background, who are activated and integrated through the drop-in centre. Moreover, the project is beneficial for the families of the elderly, for whom the load has been lightened on.

The total expenditures for Strandstuen is 617,000 d.kr. The project is based on both voluntary, municipal and state ressourcer (Kvarterløft - area-based iniciative).

Strandstuen is financed in a cooperation with the Danish ministry of integration affairs and the municipality of Brøndby Strand.

Brøndby Kommune
Denmark
Pia Blådal, tel. 0045 4328 2095

01/01/2003

case

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Integration of social groups

Older people