Cultural Diversity in Ageing

1. Cultural Diversity in Ageing Pastoral Care and Ageing  Symposium 14th June 2012 Ljubica Petrov

2. Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing Provides training and support to the aged care industry in the provision of culturally inclusive services in Victoria Provides web based resources including multilingual information Receives funding from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing through the Partners in Culturally Appropriate Aged Care (PICAC) Supports the work funded through the Community Partners Program (CPP) Auspiced by Benetas

3. The Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care (PICAC) Program aims to equip aged care providers to deliver culturally appropriate care to older people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities. The Community Partners Program (CPP) aims to promote and facilitate increased and sustained access to aged care information and services by culturally and linguistically diverse communities with significant aged care needs (around 80 organisations funded nationally)

4. The primary outcomes of the Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care (PICAC) and the Community Partners Program (CPP) include: • More aged care support services delivering culturally appropriate care to older persons from culturally and linguistically diverse communities; • Older people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities having increased access to culturally appropriate age care support services; • Older people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities having greater capacity to make informed decisions about aged care support services.

9. Characteristics of the Client Group As a group, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds share with other Australians the range of needs that arise from illness and or ageing process. However, they also experience special needs. People from culturally and linguistically diverse communities are not accessing services commensurate with their proportion of Australia’s population. Thus, they are defined under the Aged Care Act as a ‘special needs group’

10. Great diversity in what we refer to as cultural and linguistic diversity (CALD) Victoria’s people come from more than ____ countries, speak more than ____ languages and dialects and follow more than _____ religious faiths (Victorian Multicultural Commission)

11. Great diversity in what we refer to as cultural and linguistic diversity (CALD) Australia’s people come from more than 200 countries, speak more than 230 languages and dialects and follow more than 120 religious faiths (Victorian Multicultural Commission) Great diversity within individual communities: dialect, religion, region / country of origin, political affiliation, socioeconomic background, gender considerations, length of time in Australia, etc

12. People 65 and over who don’t speak English well, or at all 117,395 people - 1996 141,109 people - 2001 163,200 people - 2006 Over __________ people in Australia speak a language other than English at home Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

13. People 65 and over who don’t speak English well, or at all 117,395 people - 1996 141,109 people - 2001 163,200 people - 2006 Over 3,000,000 people in Australia speak a language other than English at home Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

14. Median age Total Australian population 37.1 All overseas born population 46.8 Latvian born 74.5 Estonian born 76.6

15. Migration + 50 Latvia-born Estonia-born Source: http://www.immi.gov.au/media/publications/statistics/comm-summ/summary.htm

16. Russian-born Poland-born Source: http://www.immi.gov.au/media/publications/statistics/comm-summ/summary.htm

17. Estonia-born Ethiopia-born Source: http://www.immi.gov.au/media/publications/statistics/comm-summ/summary.htm

19. Majority of older people live in capital cities… However, greater proportion of older migrants live in capital cities Since 1996 around 80% of older migrants have lived in capital cities (compared to around 55% of Australian born older population) Most older migrants in rural areas have lived in Australia since the major post WWII migration waves

20. Reasons for migration better life economic stability spiritual/ political freedom personal choice no choice

21. Migration experience positive life experience however, many faced: assimilation pressures loss of authority prejudice and discrimination role reversal - parent/child loss of support systems social and emotional isolation communication problems loss of physical environment

22. Considerations for individuals and families • experiencing ageing for the first time • inability to plan due to lack of experience and information • face great physical and social isolation • facing greater burden as services rely heavily on family involvement • inability to communicate and express culturally specific needs • communication difficulties even within families

23. Challenges for aged care service providers Direct care staff highlight the need for cultural background information: knowledge about religious practices days of significance for specific ethnic / religious grouping detail of food preparation and rituals leisure activities emotional support

24. Communication style Geographic Location Dimensions of Culture Work Experience Education Traditional Practices Income Religion Employment Status Family Status Language Migration Experience

25. Person Centred Care PERSON

26. Culturally Inclusive services ensure that all aspects of service design and delivery are cognisant of: • specific and unique needs of individuals, families and communities they serve • barriers that might impede equitable access to services • key service approaches and practices that ensure best outcomes for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds • staff skill set needed to ensure best outcomes for residents / patients • support services and resources available to assist

27. no - recipe no - one answer solution need to learn change traditional practice embrace flexibility continually improve providing culturally appropriate services

28. Ljubica Petrov ljubica@culturaldiversity.com.au 0418 353 752