Growing Old in a Second Language: Why Culturally Appropriate Aged Care Matters
Getting older is difficult enough without doing it in a second language. Being of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) background, for many seniors in Western Australia, ageing in a new country might involve accessing aged care services in a language other than their mother tongue, not having access to food from home and gradually losing contact with people in their home language or culture. AfCAS, the Association for Culturally Appropriate Services, is here to fill that gap.
AfCAS is a young, volunteer-led charity, with a focus on the principle that quality aged care is not determined by whether someone speaks English well, or is familiar with the traditions of mainstream services. It operates in three areas: training aged care providers to provide culturally appropriate aged care; supporting CALD clients directly by using interpreting and translating services and through the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme; and advocating for the needs of CALD seniors in the aged care sector.
One of the more obvious examples of the importance of this work is the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme. Isolation is already one of the greatest threats to older people's wellbeing, and this threat increases for migrant older people who may have outlived their connections within their first communities or relocated to join family who are too busy to pay attention to their ageing relatives. One regular visitor who speaks the same language or who has an understanding of a senior's life in general can make a lonely week one with a point of connection.
This will not occur without awareness. AfCAS is very small, with limited funding and no dedicated marketing team, and most people who might benefit from its services, or feel compelled to volunteer their time, simply don't know about it. This is where a clear, consistent digital presence can help an individual carer, service provider or a potential volunteer who might not otherwise discover AfCAS – a well written blog post or social media update is free and can be seen by a carer, a service provider, or a potential volunteer who would never otherwise find AfCAS.
There is no need for a huge commitment to support an organisation such as AfCAS. Updates, spreading its posts around to someone who works in aged care, or finding out a bit more about the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme will help increase the visibility this volunteer-run charity requires in order to continue its work. Visit thedigitalmarketingcrew.com/blog to read more and visit www.afcas.net to see AfCAS's full range of programs and how to get involved.
10735085
(Disclaimer: This content is for the sole purpose of teaching and learning at Edith Cowan University.)
Comments