For a moment, memories of beautiful Bhutan, a country on the edge of the Himalayas wedged between China and India, overshadowed the pain of persecution that forced them to flee to refugee camps in Nepal.
Today, Hari and Chandra are among some 4,000 refugees from Bhutan settling into life in Adelaide.
They are part of a broader community of refugees from across the globe that the Australian Refugee Association supports to build safe, connected, and independent lives in their new home.
However, now they face new challenges. Some older South Australians can feel they are ‘invisible’ when using public transport or seeking help.
For older refugees, these feelings can be compounded by language barriers, unfamiliar systems, and limited access to services.
Older Bhutanese women and men, like Hari and Chandra, also face being isolated and not able to read or speak English. Their new life also means struggling to access health and community services and navigating everything from the risk of scams to elder abuse.