Older Syrian refugees' experiences of language barriers in post-migration and (re)settlement context in Canada

This research explores older Syrian (from the Government-Assisted Refugee program) experiences of language barriers in Canada's post-migration and resettlement context. Guided by the ecosystemic model (Guruge & Khanlou, 2004), the qualitative descriptive method (Sandelowski, 2000) was used to describe the experiences of six older adults (three women and three men, 55-year-old and over) living in the Greater Toronto-Hamilton Area. Results show that the lack of English proficiency affects refugees' resettlement and, in particular, older adults at risk of abuse. Language barriers influence older adult refugees because it limits their ability to navigate the Canadian systems, exacerbate their dependency on adult children, increase social isolation, and decrease employment and income opportunities. Participants' commitment to learning English comes from their conviction that fluency has an essential role in shaping their experiences in Canada. Conclusions can help policymakers identify specific interventions to address language barriers among older adult Refugees.