In Hawaii, where many people from Asian cultures, often several generations live together, and to cherish and to respect elders, called a concept kupuna, is a core value, "says marketing manager Gwen Trowbridge Kisco Senior Living. So when the Carlsbad, Calif.-based senior living residence designed by Ilima Leihano, a 40-acre CCRC in Kapolei, a suburb of Honolulu, she tried to hug ohona, the combination of (family) through a partnership with another developer buildMaile Leihano, a sister living facility where adult children and grandchildren can live near their loved ones.
The buildings are on the islands' unique architectural style, characterized by external and internal spaces together seamlessly links.'s Amenities Leihano club house is a pond with koi carp, symbols of love and friendship in Japan. Activities also reflect the greater diversity Mix including residence not only Hawaiian ukulele, hula and lei-makingClasses but also classes on Chinese game Mahjong, Japanese Kanji and Chinese Tai Chi. The Dining options reflect Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Filipino, Hawaiian, Asian Fusion and Continental cuisine and Ilima will also offer "Pau Hana", a Hawaiian Happy Hour with "pupu" nibbles. Holiday festivities include Hawaii Kamehameha Day, Kuhio Day and Law Day, Chinese New Year and Lantern Festival and the Japanese Obon Festival commemorate deceased ancestors and Keiro no Hi toRespect for older people and celebrate longevity.
"Our employees are also the focus of our Ohana, no doubt sensitive to the different cultures represented at Ilima," says Trowbridge. "Not only Kisco Senior Living rent residents of Hawaii, which will include this sensitivity, but it will also be part of their training for all levels of care."
While most of the senior living communities do not go so far into the needs of older people from multicultural backgrounds, manyCompanies find creative ways to adjust their residents care strategies and to ensure opportunities for seniors from various ethnic, religious and ethnic groups feel at home.
Caring for Customs
Nonprofit religious organizations have long communities can go where people of the same faith together in pension established. A handful of specialized communities also have up for ethnic groups, such as several Japanese residences in San Francisco and Native American communities in springAlaska and Canada. But in most cases, seniors from diverse cultural backgrounds, minorities in a larger community, so cultural sensitivity should be integrated in the training of staff from day one employee orientation, Jim Concotelli, vice president of domestic programs, say for a company's core values Tampa, Florida-based Horizon Bay Senior Communities, 74 senior living communities in 13 states.
At Horizon Bay, these values are integrity, respect,Responsibility, professionalism and teamwork, and the two combined with the diversity of respect and professionalism. "Out of respect for our residents, we feel it is our responsibility to ensure that the integrity equivalent to the residents and also honors its history and background to offer," he explained. "In terms of professionalism, we ensure that our employees a resident is not only on their cultural level, but also [through] their origin and history."
Concotelli says he hasnot seen a lot of prejudice, the other residents to their neighbors from different backgrounds. Instead, most seniors enjoy about other ways of life to learn, he adds, noting that tend to the residents of the private pay retirement communities such as Horizon Bay of well-trained professional backgrounds and have had previous exposure to a variety of cultures and individuals different from themselves.
To ensure that all traditions are respected, can take on Horizon Bay Senior leadershipin deciding what to see them happy multicultural activities in their communities. Learn what important cultural traditions, is a resident an essential part of the initial interview and move-in procedures.
"In general we have a resident group a leading role in shaping and offer what they feel is appropriate," says Concotelli. "Then staff support for the space they require, or offer certain types of menus. Even if only a small group, we offersupport to continue their traditions, as we all in our communities. "
One reason may be why fewer Asians and Latinos live in Senior Living, the value of these crops on younger generations to care for their elders, Concotelli observed. However, P ointments in Fresno, California, is an exception Carrington, with a growing Asian population. "A loving family moved about five years ago, and word of mouth within the Buddhist community that this was a nice place," he addedshe says.
Since many of the inhabitants belong to a specific group of Buddhist, Horizon Bay turned to their leaders for continuing education and training for staff. With their help, the company has a Buddhist meditation garden outside and integrated ceremonies, customs and cuisine in the programming and restaurants.
Celebrate differences
At Chicago-based Brookdale Senior Living, watching multi-cultural traditions at the heart of the "Celebrations" program, the dining room is built,Sociability, themed activities, events and entertainment in all its about 419 communities, says Joska Hajdu, senior vice president of dining services and a major player in creating the program. "Turn [Celebrations] is all about cultures and celebrate our differences, not only the residents but also employees," he adds. "It's more of an event as a program and really connects the entire program all of our activities and programs that happen at the local level."
Every yearActivities are centered on an overarching theme, with mini-themes for each month. For example, in 2004 celebration focused explicitly on cultural backgrounds with "trips to America." Each month, celebrated a different geographical area from which residents or their ancestors immigrated and include an Italian month, an African-American month, an Asian-American month and a Jewish month. "Celebrations Around the World" (2007) on international holidays such as Brazil's carnival, or centerGermany's Oktoberfest. Another program, "Music of Our Lives" (2008), celebrating different musical genres such as Soul in February, the opportunity to link activities for Black History Month.
While parties may seem more than entertainment and education to all residents, it also provides opportunities for residents and staff from different cultures, religions, ethnic groups and feel honored to share their unique experiences with others, said Sara Terry, vicePresident of the optimum life, the celebrations managed.
"[Because of the parties], every day, directors of lifestyle programs to recognize an opportunity and cultural experience for residents to take advantage of programs and events," she adds. "We can tap residents share their cultural or historical perspective based on a theme and as a teacher."
The needs and wishes of people from different cultures and religions is also a priority in Brookdale's RestaurantsProgram says Hajdu. The company has its own proprietary menu-planning tool for 10 different ethnic menu regions, including Southern, Tex-Mex, and Old World, including many Jewish specialties such as matzo ball soup, gefilte fish and matzah slurry developed. While communities are initially assigned to a menu category on the basis of region, they can choose to switch to another better suited to their residents breakdown. For example, assigned Florida community to decide the Sunbelt menu canfor Old World, if there is a substantial Jewish population.
Brookdale menus are not cut-and fast rules, but starting points, says Hajdu. A New England cook can prepare a Tex-Mex recipe and vice versa. Finally, to be absolutely sure that all residents have a say in what served, seniors can make special requests, including their own cultural favorites, on the host state, and Brookdale all reasonable people to meet within 10 days. And its residents canFavorite recipes on the national database will be added.
"That's my job to find as much fun," says Hajdu. "It also teaches our managers and employees that it is all about one in the election."
Hajdu warns that specialties such as kosher or Asian food preparation, ethnic usually not in schools taught in mainstream culinary. "I chef hired a new in one of our large, mostly Jewish communities, and he never had a Matza made ball," he adds. "Each culture has his own likes eating and drinking and public holidays. A Jewish residents can expect to have a Seder meal. Residents in the southwest can definitely for Southwestern or Tex-Mex in search of food. It requires additional training and understanding. "
Multicultural Memory Care
Involvement of families is particularly important when it comes to cultural issues for Alzheimer's and dementia care residents, said Stephen F. W inner, co-founder and chief of culture for San Juan Capistrano,> California-based Silverado Senior Living, the Texas operates 20 memory-care communities in California, Utah, and. Because people with dementia live in their long-term memory, which can grow their experience in another country, church or cultural environment are among their most vivid memories, he says. Often remember the words of the old time songs or the Our Father and customs, ceremonies and cuisine in the comfort of what is now creating a confusing worldSieger says.
Silverado communities make as much trouble as any other assisted living residence Stadium holiday celebrations, church services, and are culturally familiar food. The people are sharing stories about concepts in their memory boxes, their cultural relations. For activities with a cultural bent is planned like a club, in which residents learn cooking a dish from another country to prepare, all efforts made to create a complete environmentthis culture. For example, a Mexican food by props such as maracas, sombreros and mariachi music will be accompanied.
Discussion of cultural issues and potential conflicts with families in advance can be particularly important in a memory-care environment, says winner. He cited a possible example of a Jewish family that wants to keep her lover to Jewish religious services, but then observes or learns that the residents wandered into a Christian event.
"It is a learning processenjoy with the family, that [the residents] just, the music and the socialization, not philosophy or some sort of soul-saving, "says Winner." Most families get when you explain the time that it will spend not a conversion. "
If Silverado staff warmly outside clergy to visit, they take the additional step of asking that it not a sermon, just a general open prayer, or song that everyone could from any religious background with convenience. "If a family reallydo not they say that residents are involved, we always make sure that it planned a different activity or that we directly emphasized in another area, "Winner.
In have another problem with some Jewish residents with dementia, seemingly difficult behavior during activities such as bathing may have their roots in the concentration camp experiences, says Concotelli. Horizon Bay offers a service to the mentors in the community with Jewish residents not only to help them understand JewishTraditions, but also to teach seen to such practices and in accordance with special care with personal hygiene activities for Holocaust survivors. To teach the class, the company reached with the local Jewish groups and aging services.
Some little things can go a long way, says winner. Because Alzheimer's and dementia care residents are already confused by normal communication, it is more important that employees speak English, so that a firm commitment for staff from all ethnicBackground says the winner. Likewise, if a resident does not speak fluent English, family members are asked to help assemble communication boards using keywords from this person first language. However, if Silverado is able to assign a primary caregiver who comes from the same culture that oozes a very special connection often.
"It shall be really neat to see people their memories and then see staff from the same background, their memories," says Winner. "It is often a realMix of age, too. "
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