Despite the cognitive benefits of lifelong bilingualism, some people remain monolingual throughout their lives. In the United States, where 30 states have made English the official language, older adults who are monolingual in a language other than English are especially vulnerable to isolation. Older people, already rendered invisible or talked down by ageism, are ignored or silenced by their lack of access to the dominant language. Language barriers also might lead to exploitation, as in the case last year when monolingual Asian immigrant seniors were misled to support a luxury development in Oakland under pretense that it would include affordable housing units.
Senior Center Without Walls Program Director Amber Carroll announced new Gratitude program in Spanish language! She is working to add more non-English language programming.
In Going Gray in the Golden State: The Reality of Poverty Among Seniors in Oakland, California (2008), The Oakland Institute with St. Mary’s Center suggested translating documents to languages like Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese can help monolingual immigrant seniors access opportunities like assistance programs.
Sometimes it’s not enough to translate documents because some immigrants are illiterate so interpretation services are needed. Federal and California state law make access to a medical interpreter the right of all patients who need one, just like the courts must offer an interpreter to a witness or defendant in need.
In 2001, Oakland became the first city in the nation to pass an Equal Access to Services Ordinance to remove language barriers that limited-English speakers encounter when using City services.
Communities of Oakland Respond to Emergencies (CORE) training presentation in English by Jerry Wong, and simultaneous interpretations in Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese and Spanish. Big shout out to interpreters from Equal Access and Volunteer Health Interpreters Organization (VHIO) who helped impart life-saving information while strengthening this diverse senior community!
Recently I included in a job posting for an ESL (English as a Second Language) instructor: “Work experience with older adults from diverse backgrounds preferred.” One applicant responded that while she had no particular experience working with seniors, she could offer something better as she is a senior herself! I called her for an interview J.
