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This morning, I attended an insightful session at the Future of Aging Services conference. It was about cultural competency and diversity in aging services. The speakers discussed what cultural competency is, how to foster an inclusive environment and how to manage challenges.
It was inspiring to hear members’ stories. AAHSA members are working hard to make sure everyone in the community has a positive experience. This past summer, I interviewed Mary Devlin, administrator at Cabrini Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, New York, about their efforts to become more culturally competent. Here are some of the insights she shared:
“Because 35 percent of its residents speak Chinese as their native language, Cabrini wanted to ensure it was adequately providing for this segment of its population. The program started out simply. Patricia Krasnausky, president and CEO, noticed upon her arrival in 1991 that residents were eating very little and that their relatives were bringing them food. The center hired a Chinese chef and dietician, and residents began to eat much more. By providing residents food they enjoyed, Cabrini ensured it met residents’ nutritional needs.
“The success of the dietary changes encouraged the center to expand its initiatives. Establishing cultural competency in its programs required that staff be able
to function sufficiently within an environment that incorporates the residents’ cultures. Cabrini hired bilingual staff and taught Chinese to the staff.”
Creating an environment that both staff and residents are able to thrive in is key to being a quality community. What sorts of things are you doing in your community to increase your cultural competency?
