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Senior program for Asians grows in popularity
(by Sue Reid - January 13, 2010)
Senior program for Asians grows in popularity
By SUE REID
New friendships are forming each Wednesday afternoon at the Solon Senior Center.
There, a congregate meal targeting the city's Asian population is held, offering residents an opportunity to socialize and share an afternoon without communication challenges. The weekly lunch, which also features structured activities and informational programming, is sponsored by Asian Services In Action Inc.
Beginning last fall and since tripling in attendance, the program provides Solon's Asian seniors a chance to hang out with friends every week and improve their friendships, Joe Lai, ASIA's program coordinator, said.
"The seniors have immigrated to the United States and do not understand a lot of English," Mr. Lai said. "They don't really have the capability to communicate with other Americans."
Most of the participants who take part each week in the lunch are from China and speak Mandarin, Mr. Lai said. About 20 attend on a regular basis, many of whom utilize the Solon Senior Center's in-town van for transportation to the free program. It is held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for Solon seniors, who need not be members of the senior center to participate. Those interested can call (216) 881-0330, ext. 203., and a bilingual operator will assist them.
"Asian Services in Action's lunch program provides Solon residents who might be reluctant to participate in our general programming due to a language barrier an option," Jill Frankel, Solon's senior center director, said. "As the Asian population of Solon has been increasing, the ASIA lunch program assists us in meeting the needs of our senior residents.
"The translation services and exposure to department of senior services that the ASIA program provides has had an impact," Mrs. Frankel said. "We now have more residents utilizing the transportation services and joining the senior center."
Mr. Lai said that the residents participating in the program spend time talking about things that are happening in their lives as well as in China.
Many of the seniors, who may be living with their grown children and grandchildren, are often in isolation when their children leave for work and grandchildren leave for school, Michael Byun, ASIA's executive director, said.
"The Asian families were extended families with older adults who are an important part of the family unit," he said. Solon was chosen for this program because of the high population of Asian-Americans residing in the area, Mr. Byun said.
"It's a multi-prong approach," Mr. Byun said of the weekly program. "We provide with services so they can have access to a nutritious meal, as well as opportunity for exercise, socialization and to get valuable information." That includes providing them with information about Medicare as well as specific diseases that may be impacting older adults, Mr. Byun said.
Other structured activities include training and workshops on diabetes as well as ASIA's bilingual staff assisting older adults with enrollment in benefit programs. Participants also take part in bingo, tai chi and line dancing to name a few of the offerings.
Founded in 1995 for Asian immigrant women, ASIA, a nonprofit organization, receives support from the senior center in Solon as well as Cuyahoga County's Department of Senior and Adult Services and the McGregor and Bruening foundations. It also welcomes donations from the community.
"Our original goal was to meet the unmet needs in the community at a time of a newly arriving Asian population," Mr. Byun said. "Our community is extremely diverse both ethnically and socio-economically and face unique cultural and language barriers." Many issues facing older Asian adults are unique, Mr. Byun said, and include depression as well as transitional disorders such as post-traumatic stress if they are coming from war-torn countries.
Today, ASIA, a comprehensive social service agency, meets the needs of over 4,000 people in Northeast Ohio, Mr. Byun said. He said the program in Solon would not be possible if it were not for the assistance with transportation from the senior center.
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