Articles

Aging and Diversity (May 2009)
By Home Helpers, Jennifer Anastasiades

America is growing older and becoming more diverse. According to a recent
press release issued by the U.S. Census bureau, 20% of U.S. residents are
expected to be 65 or older by the year 2030, and, “Minorities, now roughly one-third of the U.S. population, are expected to become the majority in 2042.” Generational and cultural diversity are important to understand as individual attitudes, beliefs and customs reflect our ethnicity and experiences that have shaped our life.

“It seems like all too often our diversity highlights our differences as a negative when in fact we have so much to learn from people of different ages and cultures,” said Jennifer Anastasiades, president of Home Helpers. “Our diversity adds to the rich tapestry of America that may be best reflected in art, music, poetry, politics and more,” she added. The diversity in America also tends to be quite visible in health care as it influences how people age, their health and wellness practices, and how younger generations revere and support older adults.

It is important not to classify groups of people in categories that are too broad, as doing so may fail to reflect variations specific to each culture. For example, the term Hispanic or Latino represents populations from over 20 countries including people who are Mexican-American, and those from Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Recognizing that people are different, it is essential that health care and social services professionals honor and respect people’s cultural values and customs.

As professionals in the home health care industry, we recognize the need to promote cultural sensitivity and provide culturally sensitive care. We recognize that in many cultures, family members tend to be quite involved in health care decisions. In addition, spiritual and religious practices are often a source of strength for people dealing with life events, illness and other stressors.

With many different cultures in the U.S., it may not be possible for people to have in-depth knowledge of each culture; however, we can be culturally sensitive. Things to consider include:

• Perceptions and practices specific to health and illnesses, including acceptable treatments and therapies, the roles of medicines, foods, prayer, etc.
• Views of health care providers (e.g., due to a history of discrimination, many African-American elders are reluctant to trust organizations and professionals).
• Preferences and boundaries specific to gender, physical touch, privacy, trust, power, etc.
• Communication style (e.g., eye contact, direct questions, who is involved in the decision-making process, body language, use of formal names, hand shaking, health literacy).
• Preferences for people whose primary language is not English (e.g., use of an interpreter, family as interpreter, seek out providers who speak native language).

Another way to help ensure the preservation of one’s cultural values and beliefs is to ask open-ended questions to discover individual perceptions and preferences. For more information on Cultural Competency, visit the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of Minority Health’s website at http://www.omhrc.gov/templates/browse.aspx?lvl=1&lvlID=3.

Return to articles