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Culturally Sensitive Care for Seniors
Queenie ChooChief Executive Officer
About S.U.C.C.E.S.S.
• Founded in 1973
• 30 service locations in BC, Ontario, and Overseas (China, Taiwan, and South Korea)
• 300+ multi-lingual staff
• Settlement, Language Training, Employment, Family and Youth Services, Business & Economic Development, Health Care, Housing, and Community Development
• S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Multi-Level Care Society: Adult Day Centre, Assisted Living, and Long-Term Care Home
Immigrants Seniors in Metro Vancouver
• Population Age 65 & Up: 57% are immigrants
• Top 5 Places of Birth: China, UK, India, Hong Kong & Germany
• Senior Immigrant Arrivals: Increased from 1,318 arrivals in 2009 to 3,182 in 2013
• Lack of Offi cial Language Proficiency: 26% of immigrant seniors do not have knowledge of English or French
Na t i o n a l H o u s e h o l d S u r v e y 2 0 1 1We l co m e B C , 2 0 1 3
Context
Increasing Immigrant Senior Population
Challenges Adjusting to New Environment
Unaddressed Challenges Isolation, Inability to Communicate Needs, Feelings of Mistreatment, Negative Health Impacts
Culturally Competent Care Needed to Respond to Changing Needs of Seniors
Challenges of Immigrant Seniors
Language Barriers
• Preference for First Language
Missing Cultural Norms• Food• Recreational Activities• Holidays/Celebrations• TV/Radio
Loss of Community
• Ties to Cultural/Ethnic Community
Unfamiliar Cultural Practices
• E.g. Care providers of opposite sex• E.g. Exposure of body while bathing
Cultural Conflicts with Other Residents and Care Providers
• E.g. Rooted in Historical Conflicts
Understanding of Health
Conceptualization and
Understanding of Health
Issues• Stigma/taboo (e.g. mental health, end of life practices)
Deference to
Authority
• Reluctant to ask questions or express needs
• Compounded by language barriers
Family-Based
Decision Making
Cultural Competency Care
Cultural
Sensitivity
Understand there are cultural differences as well as similaritiesValue not assigned to differences (there is no right or wrong)
Cultural
Awareness
Sensitivity and understanding of other cultural groupsInternal changes in attitudes and values
Cultural
Knowledge
Understanding of cultural characteristics, values, belief systems, and norms
Evans, 2001National Maternal and Child Health Centre on Cultural Competency, 1997Adams, 1995
Culturally Competent Care
Barrass, 2012Tayab & Narushima, 2015
Cultural, spiritual, and personal needs
Best Practices
Improve Language Capacity
• Use appropriate and trained translators who are bi-lingual and bi-cultural
Culturally Competent Communication
• Listen to Seniors• Share Perspectives and Acknowledge Similarities and Differences• Develop Mutually-Agreed Upon Plan
Practice Cultural Norms
• Familiar Foods• Recreational Activities• Celebrate Cultural Holidays
Enhance Cultural Sensitivity and Awareness• More training for staff on needs of immigrant seniors, cultural traditions and practices,
and culturally sensitive practices• Training on how culture impacts quality of life• Open communication and sharing
Leverage Cultural-Specific Community Resources
