If you\u2019ve hired a private caregiver you probably know this already; the nation\u2019s caregiving community is composed largely of individuals who are foreign born or from minority ethnic groups.<\/p>\n
For many families, this is a challenge, but one that can be overcome. Sharing your cultural heritage and learning about another person\u2019s culture can often be fun and rewarding, especially if you overcome some of the most basic challenges:<\/p>\n
Communication.<\/strong>\u00a0Let\u2019s start with the basics: communication. It\u2019s tough to communicate with a caregiver who speaks limited English. It\u2019s even tougher to ask this caregiver to communicate with an elderly loved one who may suffer from hearing loss, dementia or other conditions that impair communication in the best of situations. Yet caregivers from other cultures, who speak very limited English, can be compassionate, gentle, reliable sources of care for our loved ones. Try these approaches to bridge the communication gap:<\/p>\n Values and traditions.<\/strong>\u00a0Today\u2019s American values provide many opportunities for culture clashes with the values and traditions of a caregiver from another culture. These can range from the caregiver who is extremely uncomfortable speaking with a family member of the opposite sex, to the caregiver who comes from a background of strong familial responsibility and can\u2019t understand or accept our busy lifestyle. Learn as much as you can about the values and culture of your caregiver by asking questions and researching to avoid cultural misunderstandings and conflicts.<\/p>\n Diet.<\/strong>\u00a0Caregivers often work through mealtimes, especially those that work full days or overnight. Many families assume that caregivers will eat with the client in the American family style. Talk about food with the caregiver, and your expectations for mealtimes. Your caregiver may not feel comfortable eating with your loved one, and may have distinctly different food preferences. Cover these topics to avoid misunderstanding:<\/p>\n Cultural differences between client and caregiver are facts of life for many families today. That doesn\u2019t mean that care must be compromised, or communication limited. It does mean that we must learn to develop a greater awareness of the caregiver\u2019s culture and sensitivity to working together for the best care of your loved one.<\/p>\n In the end, taking the extra effort can result in a rich, rewarding experience for everyone involved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If you\u2019ve hired a private caregiver you probably know this […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":163,"featured_media":181,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[203],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-333","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n\n
\n