Policy perceptions of Integration Practitioners: Meeting the needs of older refugees in the European Union

Abstract

Refugee integration practitioners perform dynamic, fluid work that requires large discretionary freedom in order to meet the needs of their clients. This study investigates to what extent do Integration Practitioners perceive that existing policies support or hinder their work to integrate Older Refugees and how they respond to these perceptions in their daily practices. Findings from interviews with 15 Integration Practitioners from five EU countries show that Integration Practitioners identified Older Refugees have a lower capacity to learn and adapt in their host countries; they have the unique needing of extra and more focused support to achieve integration outcomes. Integration Practitioners perceived that existing policies do not account for this and these policies set unrealistic expectations on their work towards integrating older refugees given the time frame they are allocated to work with them. Under the theoretical framework of Policy Alienation, Integration Practitioners in this study experience Policy Alienation Meaninglessness, and in response, they created external multi-actor support networks for Older Refugees to establish meaningful, long-term social supports critical for supporting the independence of Older Refugees. Life Course Theory and the emerging literature on Occupational Professionals as Hybrid Professionals offer insightful explanations for these practices. From these findings, recommendations for policymakers, practitioners and future research are made.