Roman Aman

Empowering seniors and changing perceptions

Roman Aman’s eyes sparkle when she talks about her work with immigrant seniors and how it is changing lives and perspectives about the contributions seniors make to society. An immigrant from Eritrea who came to Canada in 1978 with her husband and five children, Roman is the founder of Elder Help-Peel (EHP) a non-profit charitable organization offering information workshops, skills development and leadership training to hundreds of immigrant seniors who live in Peel Region.

“We started the organization nine years ago in a church basement and little by little, we got funding. Our mandate is to empower seniors to be self-sufficient so they stay healthy, strong and independent,” says Roman, whose organization now serves immigrant seniors from Latin America, Africa, the Caribbean and Europe.

For Roman empowering immigrant seniors is vital, not only for their own health and well being but for the broader community as well. Self-reliant seniors help to save tax dollars and continue to bring years of life and work experience to society, she says.

“Seniors in Peel sit on our board and committees. They have the skills and knowledge but are often not encouraged to use them. We help them do that,” says Roman. She organizes an inter-generational conference every year where 160 seniors and the 160 young people from six high schools and two elementary schools in Peel Region meet.

Bringing seniors and young people together to talk to each other is important to dispel misconceptions and stereotyping, says Roman. “There is a lot that seniors can teach young people. Old people have opinions about young people and vice versa; by coming together and talking, they build good communication and good working relationships.”

In 2003, Roman and seniors from EHP found the courage to produce a video on the problem of elder abuse. “I am so proud of that project. These were immigrants who hadn’t participated in a video production before but they performed really well,” she says. The video, Elder Abuse and Immigrant Women, is currently available at EHP in Spanish, English and Somali.

“Newcomer seniors face greater obstacles than seniors born in Canada”, says Roman. “Often they arrive with few if any assets and their specific settlement needs are not immediately addressed. There is the assumption their children will take care of them.”

Her organization provides workshops on everything from money management, accessing services, finding a doctor to powers of attorney and more. EHP also offers a friendly visiting program for seniors who are unable to participate in programs. “We take volunteers from the community, train them, have them checked by the police for criminal records and then we match them with a senior; one volunteer with a senior on a weekly basis for one or two hours,” says Roman.

Apart from her work at EHP, Roman has spent hundreds of hours volunteering with boards in the region. A trained social worker she speaks, English, Italian, Portuguese, French, Amharic and Tigrinya. Active on many boards and committees, Roman was a board member of the Social Planning Council of Peel from 1996 to 2000.

As a leader in her community, she does not shy away from expressing her views.
“You have to have a vision, commitment, courage and determination,” she says. “Obstacles are a part of life but it doesn’t mean it is the end of the road. If one door closes another will open; don’t be afraid to ask for help.”

Today Roman helps hundreds of immigrant seniors live active, productive and healthy lives in Canada. Her wish is to see more seniors, particularly immigrant seniors empowered, participating in society and taking on leadership roles.

“I would like to see more immigrants involved in all aspects of life, especially seniors. My dream is to have young people and seniors working together, because it benefits families and communities. We can all benefit from the wealth of knowledge seniors have.”

Roman participated in the 1999-2000 Leaders for Change program.