1. Multicultural Insight into Spirituality
“When the spirit is neglected, people die”
(ref: Cultural and Spirituality in Ageing Migrant Communities Forum; Bruce Rumbold, 2009)

2. “relating to or affects the human spirit”
What is Spirituality
Spirituality :
“relating to or affects the human spirit”
(Oxford English Dictionary 2008)

3. Culture, Spirituality and Religion
Many religions have changed their systems of belief over time and under the influence of cultures into which they have spread. People who subscribe to a particular religion in one part of the world may have different beliefs and ritual practices from those people of the same religion in another part of the world.

4. Diversity and Spirituality
Cultural background and religious affiliation have been strong indicators of the individual’s health and overall well being
Provide strength and sustenance
'… People who do not subscribe to any particular religious beliefs are just as content…’ (Study in Sydney Hospital NSW)

5. Culture and Spirituality
Primary features of cultures are:
Past history
Dominant and recognised religion
Set of core values and traditions
Regulated social systems
Artefacts unique to a given society

6. Culture and Spirituality
Secondary features of cultures are:
Common language or groups of languages
Common physical and geographical boundaries
Fixed pattern of living arrangements
Socially accepted dietary, health and medical practices
Shared moral and legislative systems

7. Diversity and Spirituality
Individual’s culture and religion form a fundamental part of a person makeup and are particularly important when a person is seriously ill.
Diverse cultural behaviors and beliefs can lead to misunderstandings between service providers and consumers.

10. Diversity and Spirituality
Impact on service providers:
Diverse Ageing population means:
Various cultural context
Various expectations
Diverse clients
(ref: Culture and Spirituality in Ageing Migrant Communities Forum; Prof Gary Bouma, 2009)

11. What do we know about CALD
Religious and spiritual rituals
Social rituals: way of addressing an older person
Role of the elderly in particular group
Significant celebrations
Food preferences
Modesty
Privacy (i.e. touching by person of opposite gender)
Personal space
Attitudes towards health, illness, and pain
Attitudes towards death and dying, grief
Folk/ traditional medicines

12. Concepts Mutual Pretence – bad to talk or discuss
Beliefs (God’s will or Allah will decide the time)
A good death
Bella Figura
Not losing Face
Respectful
Comforting

13. End of life All spiritual needs are met *
Surrounded by family members and loved ones
Do not die alone
Peaceful and quiet passing
Die in their sleep
The more visitors, the better - a marker of respect from some communities
* a challenge for some groups

14. Diversity and Spirituality
Emotional and behavioral expression
Traditions and Practices
Cultural Taboos
Intergenerational needs and sensitivities (i.e. ancestors)
Funeral and burial practices
Unspoken rules regarding mourners, friends and relatives
Tabooed language, behavior, daily routines, dress, food, relatives

15. Diversity and Spirituality
Preferred places for death and burial
Attitudes to Anglo Australian mourning rituals and practices (conflicts and congruity)
Attitudes to funeral directors
Announcement of death
Beliefs in afterlife
Communications with the dead
Grieving and its implications

16. Diversity and Spirituality
Challenges:
How do we incorporate and include the many diverse cultural and religious beliefs of staff and consumers
… including those who are not a member of any denomination.

17. Diversity and Spirituality in Care
Understand and acquire knowledge and resources:
Role of Spirituality and Religion in the ageing migrant communities
Explore various ways of helping older people in their search for life meaning, hope, identity and connectedness

18. Diversity and Spirituality in Care
Each of us is at the same time:
like all others
like some others
like no other
(ref: Cultural and Spirituality in Ageing Migrant Communities Forum; Bruce Rumbold, 2009)

19. Diversity and Spirituality in Care
Considerations:
Philosophy of care, not strategy
Acknowledges the importance of psychosocial and spiritual aspects
Continuity of care to the end of life

20. Diversity and Spirituality
Strategies:
Provide settings that feels secure
Acknowledge stories about experiences and relationships
Values, beliefs and superstitions (i.e. Karma)
Culture versus Religion

21. Respecting Cultural Diversity
Challenges:
Stereotypes and Prejudices
Treating people of different cultures “equally”
Value Judgements
“If you treat everyone the same, you do not treat them equally”
Rosa Colanero MAC CEO

22. What does respecting mean?
Being aware of differences
Accepting differences
Valuing and honouring differences
Avoiding judgments of other cultural values, beliefs, practices

23. Multicultural Aged Care Inc.
17/06/2013
How can we do it?
Principles of Cultural Intelligence (CQ) include:
Anticipating that there is cultural diversity and that knowledge, skills, competencies and resources will be required to meet the cultural diversity of self; residents; clients; consumers; paid staff and volunteers
Assuming values; attitudes and perceptions as culturally determined and diversity within society, communities, groups, family and individuals will be demonstrated
Acknowledging other cultures; values; attitudes and perceptions as valid for their members
Acquiring knowledge, skills, competencies and resources
Accessing information; resources and training to develop cultural content knowledge, skills and competencies
Assessing information; resources and services for cultural specific perspectives
Applying knowledge, skills, competencies and resources
Aspiring to responding to and reflecting core value characteristics as the critical ones for each culture
Affirming culturally targeted responses; resources and actions
Adjusting policies and procedures; programs; activities and actions
Agreeing to modify responses and actions to meet needs in a culturally appropriate and targeted manner
Attributing diverse cultural values; attitudes and responses and become more skilled and competent as well as sensitive
Multicultural Aged Care Inc.
Multicultural Aged Care Inc.
Funded by Australian Government Department of Health
Funded by Australian Government Department of Health

24. Do you have any questions?
Closure
Do you have any questions?