Why Culturally Appropriate Care Matters as We Age
Getting older should not mean losing the things that make someone feel at home.
For many culturally and linguistically diverse seniors, that can be as simple as speaking their preferred language, eating familiar food, keeping cultural or religious traditions, or having carers who understand the importance of family and community.
These things might seem small, but they can have a big impact on whether someone feels comfortable, respected and understood.
The Association for Culturally Appropriate Services (AfCAS) supports seniors, carers and aged care organisations across Western Australia through training, support and advocacy. Their work is centred on helping services understand that care should fit the person, rather than expecting the person to fit the care.
Families and carers can help too. Sharing information about routines, food, faith, language, family roles and communication preferences can give care providers a much clearer picture of the person they are supporting and looking after.
For aged care organisations, culturally appropriate care is also about asking better questions. Rather than assuming what someone needs, staff can take time to understand what matters to that individual and their family.
That could mean arranging an interpreter, recognising an important cultural practice, understanding who makes decisions within the family, or simply knowing what makes someone feel comfortable in an unfamiliar environment.
There is also a practical benefit to getting this right. When people and their families feel listened to and understood, they are more likely to trust the people providing their care and feel confident speaking up about what they need. Cultural awareness is not something that should be treated as an extra or only considered when a problem arises. It should be part of how care is planned and delivered from the beginning.
Australia is incredibly diverse and becoming more so. This diversity will continue to shape the needs of our ageing population. A one size fits all approach to aged care therefore makes little sense. Services need to be flexible enough to respond to the different cultures, languages and experiences of the people who rely on them.
Good care should recognise the whole person, including the culture, language and experiences that have shaped their life.
If you support an older person from a culturally or linguistically diverse background, ask yourself:
What helps this person feel most at home, and is their care supporting that?
Learn more about AfCAS and culturally appropriate services at www.afcas.net
SID: 10703671
(Disclaimer: This content is for the sole purpose of teaching and learning at Edith Cowan University).
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