How do we reach older migrants before a crisis occurs? During the ENIEC Annual Meeting in Frankfurt, our network member Lucas Marx shared valuable insights on this crucial topic. In his workshop, “Building bridges into the system”, a simple yet powerful question took centre stage: how do we create access to migrant communities before support is even needed?
Using a project with older Ukrainian women as an example, Lucas showed that information about care and support must be available before someone seeks help. But older migrants are not easy to reach. According to him, the solution lies in continuous presence: being there, building trust, and keeping an eye on what is happening in people’s lives. Furthermore, recognition and respect are essential, as is communicating on an equal footing without paternalism. Timely identification of needs is also important, so that small problems do not turn into major challenges.
During a field visit to a Community and Service Centre in Frankfurt-Sachsenhausen, these ideas became tangible: meeting places where support and community come together. Thank you to Lucas for sharing these practical lessons and for the inspiration we, as the ENIEC network, carry forward. How do you ensure low-threshold access to care before a crisis arises?
