Since 2021, almost 400 Congolese quota refugees have been resettled from UN camps in Rwanda to Danish municipalities. They mainly consist of single mothers with children. Among them is a small group of older women aged between 55 and 90 who are now trying to create a meaningful life for themselves in a new country, which has proved difficult for several of them, although they also express gratitude for the resettlement.

"Several of these women struggle to learn Danish and often cannot read or write because their schooling has been limited. At the same time, many are plagued by various health problems such as PTSD, diabetes and physical ailments, which make it difficult for them to participate in work-oriented introductory courses," says Mikkel Rytter, and elaborates:

"Our report also points out that many older quota refugees feel a loss of status in the family after resettlement, as they no longer have a central role in family life, but are dependent on children and grandchildren who acquire the Danish language and knowledge of Danish society more quickly. Because of the language barrier, the group of older quota refugees often has difficulty forming new social relationships."

Recommendations for improvement

The challenges are elaborated in the report "Resettled at the end of life: The lives of older quota refugees in Denmark". The report highlights seven areas of action that can improve the well-being and networks of the elderly

1. Older quota refugees should live near family members or other Chinese-speaking citizens to strengthen security and networks.
2. Opportunities for communities with other Kinyarwan speakers should be prioritized. This can be done, for example, by helping the elderly with access to a mobile phone or computer so that they can meet online with others.
3. Accessible offers and social meeting places for the older quota refugees. The older women may need help finding new interests, for example the opportunity to do needlework, go to a gymnastics class or grow vegetables in a utility garden can help give the group a more meaningful everyday life.
4. Volunteer citizens, such as the DRC Danish Refugee Council and the Danish Red Cross' nationwide programme 'Friends show the way', can play an important role in integrating the elderly into the local community.
5. Health and well-being should be prioritised, and the elderly must be informed about help options such as health care or home help.
6. In the short or long term, the older quota refugees may benefit from a "section 94 scheme" so that a daughter or an adult grandchild is employed as their "self-appointed helper" with responsibility for care and care tasks. However, this presupposes that such a task can be fitted in with the relative's education and/or working life.
7. It would be a good idea to invite the elderly (and possibly their adult children) to a conversation about old age, death and funeral rituals in Denmark – both in terms of what can happen in practical terms, but also who is responsible.

Behind the research results
"Reorienting Integration" is number 5 in a series of reports aimed at municipal employees.
The report series provides insight into how quota refugees perceive and experience their new lives and daily routines in Denmark.

Type of study: The project is applied to the humanities and follows arrival, resettlement and inclusion processes for Congolese quota refugees who have come to Denmark since 2021.

External collaborators:
The project "Reorienting Integration" (2022-2026) is a collaboration between researchers from the Department of Anthropology at Aarhus University, researchers from VIVE – The Danish Centre for Social Research and Analysis and employees from the Centre for Vulnerable Refugees in the DRC Danish Refugee Council.

External funding:
The project is funded by VELUX FONDEN and the Elderly Report by the Ensomme Gamles Værn Foundation

Link:
https://cas.au.dk/reorienting-integration
The report was prepared by:
Rikke Trige Jensen
Mette Lind Kusk
Emilie Mortensen
Mikkel Rytter
 

Contact

Mikkel Rytter, Professor
Department of Anthropology
School of Culture and Society
Aarhus UniversityMail:mikkelrytter@cas.au.dk
Mobile: +45 2514 9892