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Many Cultures of Caring

In Hawaii, where many Asian cultures, often living for several generations together and appreciation and respect for elders, a concept called kupuna, is a fundamental value, "said marketing director Gwen Trowbridge main Kisco life. So if the Carlsbad, California, home nursing homes designed to Leihano Ilima, a 40-acre CCRC in Kapolei, a suburb of Honolulu, she sought to connect ohona kiss (the family) in partnership with another developer for the construction Leihano Maile, a sister city whose adult children and grandchildren can live near their relatives.

The buildings are on the unique architectural style of the islands, influenced by internal and external spaces connected rooms seamless. Facilities at the Club House Leihano is a pond with koi carp function symbols of love and friendship in Japan. Activities should also reflect the variety script to Combine residence, including not only Hawaiian ukulele, hula and lei-classes, but also Chinese and mahjong games courses in Japanese kanji and Chinese Tai Chi. Dining options reflect Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Tagalog, Hawaiian, Asian, Fusion and Continental cuisine and also offer Ilima "Pau Hana", a happy hour with Hawaiian "Pupu" appetizer. holiday celebrations Hawaii Kamehameha Day, Kuhio Day and Law Day, New Year and Chinese Lantern Festival and the Japanese Obon Keiro no Hi deceased ancestors and remember to respect their elders and show celebrating longevity.

"Our staff, also at the heart of our Ohana is probably sensitive to different cultures represented at Ilima," said Trowbridge. "Not only local residents Kisco Senior Living in Hawaii, which includes the sensitivity, but it will also be part of their training for all levels of care."

While most of the senior living communities can not go so far in the needs of older people from a multicultural environment, many companies are finding creative ways to feel in order to guarantee their place of residence care strategies and opportunities for seniors to various racial, ethnic and religious personal home.

Care for Customs

Nonprofit organizations have long religious communities where people can go together the same faith in pension established. A handful of specialized communities have emerged for ethnic groups, and several residences in San Francisco Japanese and Native American communities in Alaska and Canada. But in most cases, older people from different cultural backgrounds, minorities in a wider, cultural sensitivity should be integrated to the core values of a company and their inclusion in the training of staff orientation day-one employees, said Jim Concotelli, Vice-President during Tampa, Florida, Horizon Bay Senior Communities, 74 senior living communities in 13 states conducted.

On the Horizon Bay, these values are integrity, respect, accountability, professionalism and teamwork, and both are related to diversity, respect and professionalism. "Out of respect for our residents, we believe it is our responsibility to ensure that the integrity of the game live, and was also their context and history to offer," he explains. "In terms of professionalism We make sure our employees not only includes a resident cultural level, but also [to] their origins and history. "

Concotelli says he still has a lot of prejudices that seen by other residents for their neighbors of different backgrounds. Instead, citizens of the highest benefit from learning other ways of life, he adds, noting that residents of the driveway communities retirement allowance such as Horizon Bay trained career and previous exposure to a variety of cultures and individuals of different trend itself.

To ensure that all traditions are respected, can Horizon Bay Senior, head deciding what you want multi-cultural activities to see in their communities. Learn what cultural traditions are important, resident, is an essential element of the initial interview and move process.

"In general, we have a group of residents, to play a leading role in designing and providing what they deem appropriate," says Concotelli. Then they support staff to provide the space they need, or certain types of menu items. Although only a small group, we offer support to honor their traditions, as we all have in our communities. "

This is one reason why Asians and Latinos live under in Senior Living is the value of the crop on the younger generations to care for the elderly, noted Concotelli. However, the mask Carrington S, Fresno, California, is an exception, with a growing Asian population. Lover, one family has taken five years ago, and spread word of the Buddhist community, it was a beautiful place, "he said.

Like many of the inhabitants belong to a particular Buddhist group, Horizon Bay turned to their leaders for continuing education and training for staff. With their help, the company has a meditation garden and external integrated Buddhist ceremonies, customs and food in the programming and dining room.

Celebrating differences

In Chicago, Brookdale Senior Living, Multi-cultural traditions, looking at the heart of the "Celebrations" program, which includes food, fellowship, themed activities, events and entertainment in all its approximately 419 communities, said Joska Hajdu, Vice-President Senior table service and a major player in creating the program. "[The party] is for all cultures and celebrate our differences, not only for residents but also the employees," he added. "It's more of an event such as a program and really connects the entire program of all our activities and programs taking place at the local level."

Each year, activities are centered on a unifying theme, with mini-themes for each month. For example, in 2004, focused specifically on the celebration of cultural background, with "journeys to America." Each month, celebrated another geographical area from abroad or their ancestors immigrated and include one month Italian an Afro-Americans month, a month in Asia and America, one month and a Jew. "Celebrations Around the World" (2007) focused on international holidays like Carnival in Brazil or Oktoberfest in Germany. Another program, "Music of Our Lives" (2008), celebrating the various genres such as soul in February, the possibility of taking measures for black history month link.

Although the parties may appear and feel more educational entertainment for all residents, but also opportunities for the residents and employees of different cultures, religions and ethnicities and we are honored to share their experiences with Other unique, "said Sara Terry, vice president of Optimal life, the celebrations managed.

"[Because] of the festival, each day, the program directors lifestyle to recognize an opportunity and a cultural experience for residents to take advantage of programs and events," she added. "We can use people from their point of view based on cultural or historical issue of shares and use them as a teacher."

The needs and aspirations of peoples of different cultures and religions is also a priority in the program at Brookdale to eat, "says Hajdu. The company has an internally developed tool menu property planning for the 10 different ethnic menu regions, including Southern, Tex-Mex and old world, which many Jewish specialties like soup Matze balls, gefilte fish and matzah contains the pulp. While communities are first assigned to a menu category on the basis of the region, they can choose a better fit, change their residence distribution. For example, a community of Florida Sunbelt menu can be attributed to choose the old world, if it has a large Jewish population.

Brookdale menus are not cutting and binding rules, but the points of departure, Hajdu said. A leader New England, a Tex-Mex recipe to prepare, and vice versa. Finally, to be absolutely sure that all residents have their say in what serves the elderly can also express special requests, including their favorite cultural booth host and Brookdale all reasonable steps to respond within 10 days. And residents can add their favorite recipes on the national database.

"This is where my work is so fun," says Hajdu. "It teaches our managers and employees, whether on the choice of a resident."

Hajdu, however, warns that ethnic specialties such as the preparation of kosher food or Asian does not generally taught in mainstream schools culinary. "I hired a new chief at one of our major Jewish communities for the most part, and he had never made a Matzo ball," he added. "Every culture has its own preferences Eating and Drinking and holidays. Formed a Jewish resident expect, can get a meal of the Seder. Residents in the South West can really look Southwestern or Tex-Mex Food. It requires additional training and understanding. "

Memory Care multicultural

Family involvement is particularly important when it comes to cultural issues for Alzheimer's and dementia residents, said Stephen F comes. W inner life co-founder and director of culture for San Juan Capistrano, California-based Silverado Senior, which operates 20 local memory care in California, Utah and Texas. Because people with dementia live in their memory long-term growth experiments, may in another country, church or cultural environment among their most vivid memories, "he said. I often remember the words of old songs or the Lord's Prayer, and the customs, ceremonies and cuisine in the comfort of what is now a confused world, "said the winner.

Silverado communities make the same effort as any other living stage assisted holiday celebrations residence offers religious services, and are culturally familiar food. Residents are invited to their stories about items in their memory boxes, relate to their cultures. For activities in the cultural is conceived as a cooking club where people learn, a dish from another country to prepare, all efforts to raise a complete environment that culture. For example, Mexican cuisine will be accompanied by accessories such as maracas, sombreros and mariachi music.

Discuss cultural issues and potential conflicts with families in advance can be particularly important in an environment of care to remember, "said winner. He wants to use a possible example of a Jewish family who kept her lover at Jewish religious services, but then noticed or learned that the resident wandered into a Christian event.

"This is a learning process with our family home page [is] just enjoy the music and save the socializing, not philosophy or some sort of soul," said Winner. "To Most families, if you spend time trying to explain that this is not a conversion. "

If Silverado invite staff to travel outside of the clergy, they take the extra step of asking that is not a sermon, and instead only a general open prayer or song, he could not in all religious backgrounds, combined with comfort. "If the family is saying they do not want the residents concerned, we always ensure that it planned a different activity or direct that we highlighted in a different area," Winner said.

have another problem with some Jewish residents with dementia, apparently difficult to conduct activities such as swimming, may have their roots in the experiences of concentration camps, said Concotelli. Horizon Bay offers an educational supervisor to serve the communities of Jews is not only intended to help them, but also Jewish, teach them to identify such practices and appropriate care of the special activities of personal hygiene for survivors of the Holocaust. To teach the class, the Company entered into with local Jewish groups and aging services.

A few things can go very far, "said the winner. Because residents of Alzheimer's and dementia care already confused by the normal communication, it is important that employees speak English, so that a strong commitment to staff from all ethnic backgrounds, "says winner . Similarly, if a resident does not speak fluent English, family members are asked to help gather communication boards using the keywords of this language person. However, when percolation Silverado capable of primary caregiver who must allocate the same culture, a relationship is often very special.

"It's really wonderful to see residents share their memories and then see the staff of the same origin, its memories," said the winner. "There is often a real mix of ages, too."