Building Cultural Competence in Cincinnati and Dayton Senior Housing

Cultural competence is shorthand for “the ability to interact effectively and respectfully with people from all cultures, backgrounds, identities, races and ages.”

It involves:

• understanding others,
• being aware of your thought processes and behaviors toward people different from you,
• developing positive attitudes,
• learning to act differently,
• creating effective relationships and
• identifying cultural factors.

Cultural competence is important because it:

• recognizes the value of every individual, family and community,
• protects and preserves the dignity of each person,
• enhances the quality of services,
• leads to better outcomes and
• is a principal foundation of clinical nursing

Becoming culturally competent doesn’t happen overnight. It is an ongoing process that requires commitment and dedication to learning more about yourself and others.

Cultural competence in senior housing

Cultural competence in senior housing is the ability of providers to deliver services that meet the social, cultural and linguistic needs of all patients. This means understanding and respecting the cultural practices, beliefs and values of patients while providing care that is effective, equitable and tailored to individual needs.

At Senior Care Partners, cultural competence is one of the factors we use to evaluate senior housing options on behalf of our clients. The best assisted living center in the Cincinnati or Dayton area is one capable of meeting your loved one’s unique needs.

Cultural competence is made up of awareness, knowledge, skills and attitudes:

First, you need to recognize and understand your own cultural biases (we all have them) and how they may influence your interactions with residents. Acknowledging the existence of cultural differences in healthcare beliefs and practices grows out of seeing your own “culture.”

Next comes gaining an understanding of different cultural practices, traditions, and worldviews, particularly those related to health, illness and treatment. In a senior housing situation, is it especially important to become aware of how social determinants of health (e.g., economic status, language barriers and education) impact various populations.

Once you understand the cultural factors at play in your facility, it is critical to learn and practice effective communication techniques that respect these cultural differences (active listening, using interpreters or employing non-verbal communication effectively, for example).

Along with better communication comes adapting your healthcare delivery to align with residents’ cultural practices and preferences.

Attitude is another big part of fostering cultural competence. As you change your behaviors, hopefuly you will be cultivating empathy, openness and respect for cultural diversity. You will know you have “arrived” when you are eager to learn from residents about their cultural needs and preferences.

Why it matters in healthcare

1. It improves health outcomes

• Cultural competence reduces health disparities by ensuring that patients receive care that serves their cultural values and beliefs.

• It helps ensure treatment plans are followed, because patients feel respected and understood.

2. It aids communication

• Clearer communication between providers and residents reduces misunderstandings, increases satisfaction and removes language barriers.

3. It increased trust

• Residents are more likely to trust and cooperate with providers who show cultural competence, leading to better relationships and continuity of care.

4. It addresses health gaps

• Cultural competence is essential for reducing inequities in healthcare access, quality and outcomes for marginalized populations.

Examples in practice

• A provider learns about a patient’s cultural approach to diet and incorporates these preferences into a diabetes management plan.
• Using professional medical interpreters to communicate with patients who speak a different language.
• Recognizing the importance of spiritual beliefs in end-of-life care and involving appropriate spiritual leaders or rituals.
• Avoiding assumptions and asking open-ended questions to better understand a patient’s cultural context, such as: “Can you tell me about any cultural or personal preferences that are important to your care?”
• Provide cultural competency training to staff to improve their understanding of diverse populations.
• Employ a workforce that reflects the community being served.
• Partner with community leaders and organizations to understand and address the unique needs of specific cultural groups.
• Implement policies that support equitable access to healthcare and address cultural and linguistic barriers.

Our job at Senior Care Partners is to get seniors the respectful, personalized and effective care they deserve. A big part of that is helping organizations serving seniors develop cultural competence.

When asking about “nursing homes near me,” be sure to ask about the cultural competence of the staff at the facility.

Not only are our services completely FREE, our team of experienced Cincinnati and Dayton based senior care living advisors offer free, no-obligation consultations. Contact us today.