Multicultural, International Caregiving A Trend Today

As computers, media , travel, and migrations of people bring us closer to a world community, multicultural, international caregiving becomes a trend.  There is a rich mozaic of elderly seniors from other countries.  Their traditions and childhood memories represent part of history, and those of us who assist them are fortunate to have this connection.    

In any given city all over the world there will be people from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, and they will have a variety of caregiving styles, needs and traditions.  

Accommodating their needs with consideration for their ethnic background can mean providing bilingual caregiving, observance of holidays and traditions unique to their ethnic groups, foods and recipes from the land of their childhood, and caregiving and healthcare that incorporates values from their backgrounds.  

The types of medical approaches, spiritual approaches, and family or social networks offer enormous variety.  For instance, caregiving in America and caregiving in India share many approaches but also can have variety from a family, spiritual and medical approach. Traditional western medicine may be blended with eastern traditions and medicine, and vice versa. 

Another example, caregiving and care facilities here on the California west coast meet the needs of clients or patients who are from all over the world - Asia, South America, Latin America, Europe, and more. 

Care facilities offer a multicultural experience and approach in my area and bilingual caregivers assist.  Special traditions and holidays that are celebrated in different countries are honored and celebrated.  For instance, foods and recipes from other countries can provide elderly seniors who grew up outside the United States with a connection to their past.  It also provides a valuable experience for those who grew up locally.  

It's not unusual for a care-recipient to receive eastern style accupuncture or accupressure, to practice yoga and meditation, and to receive traditional western style medical care.  

Some of the holidays that originated in Mexico are celebrated in daycare, Hospice settings, and care facilities.  An in-home caregiver from an agency or at a care center may provide care for elderly seniors who originally moved from a variety of other countries.  

As people age the traditions of their childhood sometimes become especially important.  They may enjoy reminiscing about a childhood spent growing up in another country and treasuring favorite experiences.   For instance, the foods and recipes they knew as a child may become an important source of pleasure and comfort.      

Thus, one of the future trends is that caregiving will continue to become more multicultural and international.  Celebrating and honoring the variety of heritages can make the rewards of caregiving a richer experience for elderly seniors and for those who  assist them.