Volume 4, Issue 1

March 2003

Page 2

Reaching out to the Aged in our community

MULTICULTURAL AGED CARE SERVICE W.A. (MACSWA)

PARTNERS IN CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE CARE

For many elderly people leaving their home to move into residential care accommodation, the change can be an emotionally distressing experience.

This transition can become more problematic for older people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds (CALDB).

MACSWA was established in 1998 to support Residential and Community Aged Care Services throughout Western Australia achieve best practice in the delivery of care to older people from CALD backgrounds.

Osborne Park Hospital Open Day
40th Anniversary Celebration

MACSWA held a stall providing residential and community aged care information and other displays.

MACSWA is one of eight National Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care (PICC) organizations funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, hosted by the North Metropolitan Health Service and based at the Osborne Park Hospital.

MACSWA is managed by Maria Bunn together with her Team; Sheryl Stone, Training Coordinator; Connie Coltrona, Occupational Therapist; and Erni Atmojo, Administrative Assistant.

Left to right: MACSWA staff Sheryl Stone, Erni Atmojo, Maria Bunn

and Connie Coltrona pose for a team photo.

MACSWA staff are privileged to have had the support and guidance of a committed and knowledgeable Advisory Committee over the years. The committee consists of a range of State, Commonwealth, Peak Body, Aged Care Providers, Health Professionals and Ethnic Communities Representatives.

MACSWA Staff and Advisory Committee members

MACSWA staff and Advisory Committee Representatives (2001) meet over lunch.

The contribution of these individuals is most valuable as their extensive knowledge and skills have assisted MACSWA in its development, progress and vision.

Fulfilling the aims of MACSWA is a challenge not for the fainthearted. A sense of commitment and dedication to the care of the aged in our society underlies all of these endeavours. The Team, under the direction of Manager Maria Bunn, implement the aims of the Service by providing support to residential and community aged care providers both in Metropolitan and Rural areas.

MACSWA AIMS

To support best practice in the delivery of aged care services to older people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (CALDB).
To assist aged care providers plan and establish culturally appropriate services.
To promote access to, and choices of residential and community aged care services for frail older people from CALDB.
To foster partnerships between government, aged care industry, health professionals and ethnic communities.

MACSWA SERVICES

Provide Education
Consultations
Establish Clusters
Provide Information
Develop Resources
Provide Referrals
Conduct Research
Advocacy

Residential Care Accreditation Workshop for CALDB Community Groups, Consumers and Aged Care Providers.

MACSWA staff pose for a photo with workshop participants, presenters and Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency WA State Manager.

Supporting Best practice in the Delivery of Aged care Services

Supporting best practice in the delivery of aged Care Services to older people from CALD backgrounds, is a challenge that is both daunting and fulfilling.

Pam Corker House, Waroona residents and relatives, friends and volunteers join MACSWA Manager

and Italian entertainers in the celebration of the Italian Cluster Launch.

In acknowledgment of the good practice already occurring in many sectors of the industry, MACSWA’s team has worked closely with residential aged care providers, health professionals and ethnic communities to plan, establish and promote nineteen clusters. Clusters service providers are required to meet set criteria covering cultural, spiritual, dietary, language and social needs of CALDB older people. Of the clusters established the following ethnic groups are represented: Chinese, Dutch, Macedonian, Italian, Greek, Ukrainian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Serbian and Vietnamese.

St Michael’s Nursing Home Macedonian Staff dressed in traditional costumes for Macedonian Cluster celebration pose for a photo

with Department of Health and Ageing Representatives and MACSWA Manager during their visit to the facility.

Residential Services willing to establish a “cluster” must also be prepared to enable staff to attend Cultural Diversity Training Workshops in order to enhance cultural awareness and skills of personnel.

Resource Lending Library And Data Base

MACSWA has established a wide range of resources consisting of books, audio and video tapes, CD’s, card games, newspapers and magazines to provide on loan to residential aged care services to assist with the planning of “Special Days” celebrations, events and programs for CALDB residents.

A range of fact sheets were developed to assist residential aged care services provide culturally appropriate care to CALDB residents.

The Multicultural Aged Care Handbook

A practical and useful resource produced by MACSWA.

In the year 2000 MACSWA produced the Multicultural Aged Care Handbook in response to requests received from service providers and health professionals for a resource that would assist service providers enhance their knowledge about the diversity of clients they are caring for.

This valuable resource contains information about background, culture, communication, dietary requirements, spiritual needs, special days of celebration and activities of twenty six diverse cultural groups.

Cultural Diversity Training

Cultural and Mental Health Workshop – Katanning.

Workshop presenters from MACSWA and the WA Transcultural Mental Health Centre pose for

a photo with residential and community aged care participants.

In order to support the aged care industry and health professionals in their role, MACSWA provides education by offering cultural diversity training, workshops and seminars.

Last year MACSWA staff in collaboration with the WA Transcultural Mental Health Centre conducted Cultural and Mental Health workshops. These were planned and delivered in partnership with WA Transcultural Mental Health Centre to residential and community aged care providers in the Perth Metropolitan Area and Regional Areas in the town of Katanning.

A Cultural Diversity Training Workshop for “Cluster” Facilities Service Providers and “An Holistic Approach to Developing Care Plans for CALDB Clients” workshop was planned and presented to Metropolitan area and South West Region residential and community aged care providers.

MACSWA Training Coordinator Sheryl Stone with Cultural Diversity Training participants

from a residential care facility in the Perth Metro Area.

“Festive Season Activities Workshop” for residential aged care service providers caring for CALDB residents was well received and well attended.

MACSWA staff and South West aged care providers.

Research

MACSWA conducted an “ethnicity data” survey of all Perth metropolitan area residential Aged Care facilities from March 2002.

Information collated included the ethnicity of CALDB residents, languages other than English spoken by facility staff and residents, preferred language/s of residents, level of fluency in the English language and “role/position” of facility staff. The research was completed in June 2002.

Survey Results Highlights:

Total Number of residents reported in the survey : 1094
5 Major Countries of Residents’ Origin include:

Italy
Netherlands
Poland
Greece
Germany
5 Major Languages spoken by staff:
Italian
Polish
Burmese
Dutch
French

Total number of languages other than English spoken by residents - 61

Survey results are stored in MACSWA’s customised Ethnicity Database. This information is used as a placement tool to enable ACATS, Health Professionals, members of the public and ethnic communities’ organisations locate facilities within the Perth Metro area where there are CALDB staff and/or residents. The database is a useful tool used to reduce the number of “sole” CALDB residents in facilities and minimise isolation.

Multicultural Networks

1. North Metro Multicultural Network:
Was established by MACSWA to assist Metropolitan residential and community age care providers and health professionals caring for CALDB clients.

This network meets bimonthly at the Osborne Park Hospital and on each meeting guest speakers are invited to present information on a range of topics and services. Network members have the opportunity to promote their services, access and share information.

North Metro Multicultural Network participants, MACSWA Manager

and Training Coordinator with guest speakers.

2. South West Region Activities Staff Multicultural Network:
This network was established to assist residential and community age care providers in the South West region of WA plan and develop activities and recreational programs to enhance the quality of life of CALDB residents/ clients, and meet Aged Care Accreditation Standard 3 (Resident Lifestyle - 3.7 & 3.8).

3. Activities Staff Multicultural Network, Perth Metropolitan Area:

This network meets quarterly and was initiated to support residential and community age care providers in the Perth metropolitan area plan and develop activities and recreational programs to enhance the quality of life of CALDB residents/clients, and meet Aged Care Accreditation Standard 3 - 3.7 & 3.8.

Interaction with Other Agencies and Government

MACSWA has representation on a range of Local, State, Commonwealth and peak organisations' committees. Some of these include:

The Town of Vincent, Seniors Advisory Committee
The Aged Standards and Accreditation Agency WA, WA Liaison Group
The Multicultural Access Unit- Stakeholders and Reference Committee.
The Department of Health and Ageing - Aged Care Planning Advisory Committee.
Department of Community Development, Seniors Interests, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Background Working Group.
Ethnic Communities Council (ECC), Aged Care and Women’s Issues Sub Committee.
Carers WA – Training Development Project Reference Group.

Established Linkages to Promote Service Support And Development

MACSWA established linkages with the WA Transcultural Mental Health Centre and worked in partnership to coordinate a series of programs focussing on “Health and Well Being of Older People”. This initiative was developed to promote the importance of maintaining mental health and strategies for enhancing the quality of life for older people. This information was broadcasted on the Italian, German, Chinese, Polish and Serbian Ethnic Radio programs.

IAFACS Committee. MACSWA Manager presents award to scholarship recipient.

The Italo-Australian Foundation for Aged Care Scholarship (IAFACS) is an initiative of the Italo-Australian community of Western Australia established in collaboration with MACSWA, Edith Cowan University and Curtin University Schools of Nursing and St Michael’s Aged Care to support Italian aged people accessing residential and community aged care services by providing nursing scholarships and aged care courses awards to encourage bilingual nurses and aged care workers to consider gerontology as a field of specialisation and aged care as a rewarding career.

The Foundation offers Nursing Scholarships up to $2000.00 per annum and awards for Certificate Three Aged Care Courses.

Maria Bunn said ”As the number of CALDB people in care continue to rapidly increase so will the demand for culturally appropriate aged care services. MACSWA looks forward to continuing to support service providers in meeting the diverse needs of frail older Australians and planning services that are culturally appropriate.”

For more information about MACSWA and its services, networks, workshops and IAFACS Scholarships, please contact Maria Bunn or Sheryl Stone on Tel: (08) 9346 8240 or (08) 9346 8149 Email Address: macswa@health.wa.gov.au

(Photos Courtesy of Maria Bunn).

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