Aging well, culturally: why AfCAS is important to multicultural seniors in Perth.
One common belief that is not necessarily true in discussions about aging, as Perth becomes more ethnically diversified is: getting older does not look the same for everyone. Older adults from culturally and Linguistically Diverse (cald) communities may be able to receive services to assist them in their daily lives; however, they are also seeking to be treated with respect in ways that honor their language, customs, and individuality when receiving care.
It is here that the Association for Culturally Appropriate Services (AfCAS) can help. AfCAS is a western australia-based non-profit organization which advocates for high-quality culturally responsive care for all older adults from cald communities living anywhere in WA. The very basic yet highly important goal of AfCAS is that no senior should ever need to make a choice between getting the care they require and being understood.
AfCAS provides behind-the-scenes support to organizations delivering aged care and other related services by identifying the cultural barriers and differences in how these services are delivered to seniors from cald backgrounds. The main service areas provided by AfCAS are:
Training - practical, awareness raising, and extensive training for care workers, supervisors, management teams, boards of directors etc., focusing on the provision of home care, residential care, dementia and palliative care through a culturally informed perspective.
Mentoring -"Train-the-trainer" type mentoring to enable key personnel to incorporate culturally appropriate practices throughout their organizations, producing long-term changes instead of just short-term solutions.
Cultural audits/charters - a systematic evaluation of an organization's strengths and weaknesses relative to national benchmarks, resulting in a customized Multicultural Charter outlining specific recommendations for continued growth and development.
Community outreach/advisory services - drawing upon AfCAS' existing connections within the diverse communities located throughout Perth to link aged care and similar services to those for whom they deliver services, and to provide research and advocacy assistance for universities and the sector.
Why does this matter today? There are seniors from numerous ethnicities and languages currently residing in Perth who experience social isolation due to the fact that while there are abundant services available, most do not use their native language -- whether spoken or culturally.
AfCAS helps bridge the divide between service providers and seniors from multicultural communities by assisting service providers transition from merely "meeting compliance requirements" to truly connecting with the seniors they provide services to.
For families this means greater peace-of-mind. For service providers it represents increased trust in the community. And for the broader community, it represents the respect for the diverse people who have contributed to making Perth what it is today.
How can i get involved? If you are an aged-care provider interested in improving your organization's cultural competence, if you would like to volunteer as a visitor with seniors, or if you believe that seniors deserve dignity in both their own language and culture, then there is a role waiting for you at AfCAS.
Consider using their training/advisory services. Apply to become a volunteer visitorSupport their efforts financially by donatingContact them to learn more as Perth continues to grow increasingly culturally diverse organizations such as AfCAS continue to demonstrate that cultural respect and quality care are not competing goals - but complementary ones.
Find out more about AfCAS at AfCAS.net
Carmelo Adamo
10736566
(Disclaimer: This content is for the sole purpose of teaching and learning at Edith Cowan University).
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