| In Hawaii, where many people come from Asian | | | | Our Lives" (2008), celebrated different musical |
| cultures, multiple generations often live together, and | | | | genres, such as soul in February, which provided a |
| cherishing and respecting elders, a concept called | | | | chance to link activities to Black History Month. |
| kupuna, is a key value, says Marketing Manager | | | | While Celebrations may seem more about |
| Gwen Trowbridge of Kisco Senior Living. So when | | | | entertainment and continuing education for all |
| the Carlsbad, California-based senior-living residence | | | | residents, it also affords opportunities for residents |
| conceived Ilima at Leihano, a 40-acre CCRC in | | | | and staff from different cultures, religions, and |
| Kapolei, a suburb of Honolulu, they sought to | | | | ethnicities to feel honored and share their unique |
| embrace that connection of ohona (family) by | | | | experiences with others, says Sara Terry, vice |
| partnering with another developer to build Maile at | | | | president of Optimum Life, which administers |
| Leihano, a sister residential community, in which adult | | | | Celebrations. |
| children and grandchildren can live near their loved | | | | "[Because of Celebrations], every day, directors of |
| ones. | | | | lifestyle programs have an opportunity to recognize |
| Buildings are designed in the islands' unique | | | | and utilize residents' cultural experiences for programs |
| architectural style, characterized by outdoor and | | | | and events," she adds. "We can tap residents to |
| interior spaces interconnecting seamlessly. Amenities | | | | share their cultural or historical perspective based on |
| at the Leihano Clubhouse will feature a pond with koi | | | | a theme and use them as teachers." |
| fish, symbols of love and friendship in Japan. Activities | | | | Accommodating the needs and desires of people |
| also reflect the anticipated diverse resident mix | | | | from different cultures and religions is also a priority in |
| including not just Hawaiian ukulele, hula, and lei-making | | | | Brookdale's dining program, Hajdu says. The company |
| classes, but also Chinese games of mahjong and | | | | has developed an in-house, proprietary menu-planning |
| classes on Japanese kanji writing and Chinese tai chi. | | | | tool for 10 different ethnic menu regions, including |
| Dining options reflect Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Filipino, | | | | Southern, Tex-Mex, and Old World, which |
| Hawaiian, Asian-fusion, and Continental cuisines, and | | | | incorporates many Jewish specialties such as matzo |
| Ilima also will offer "Pau Hana," a Hawaiian happy hour | | | | ball soup, Gefilte fish, and matzah brei. While |
| with "pupu" appetizers. Holiday celebrations will include | | | | communities are initially assigned a menu category |
| Hawaii's Kamehameha Day, Kuhio Day, and Lei Day; | | | | based on region, they can choose to switch to |
| Chinese New Year and Lantern Festival; and the | | | | another one better suited to their resident |
| Japanese Obon Festival to commemorate deceased | | | | breakdown. For example, a Florida community |
| ancestors and Keiro No Hi to show respect for the | | | | assigned the Sunbelt menu can opt for Old World if it |
| elderly and celebrate longevity. | | | | has a substantial Jewish population. |
| "Our associates, also at the heart of our ohana, will | | | | Brookdale's menus also are not hard-and-fast rules, |
| no doubt be sensitive to the various cultures | | | | but rather starting points, Hajdu emphasizes. A New |
| represented at Ilima," Trowbridge says. "Not only will | | | | England chef can prepare a Tex-Mex recipe and vice |
| Kisco Senior Living hire local residents of Hawaii who | | | | versa. Finally, to be absolutely sure that all residents |
| will encompass this sensitivity, but it will also be part | | | | have a say in what's served, seniors can make |
| of their training for all levels of care." | | | | special requests, including their own cultural favorites, |
| While most senior living communities don't go so far | | | | at the host stand, and Brookdale will fulfill all |
| in serving the needs of seniors from multicultural | | | | reasonable ones within 10 days. And residents can |
| backgrounds, many companies are finding creative | | | | submit their favorite recipes to be added to the |
| ways to customize their resident-care strategies and | | | | national database. |
| offerings to ensure seniors from various racial, | | | | "This is where my job becomes so much fun," Hajdu |
| religious, and ethnic groups feel right at home. | | | | says. "It also teaches our managers and associates |
| Caring for Customs | | | | that it's all about a resident's choice." |
| Nonprofit religious organizations have long established | | | | Hajdu warns, however, that ethnic specialties such as |
| communities in which people of the same faith can | | | | kosher or Asian food preparation are not typically |
| retire together. A handful of specialized communities | | | | taught in mainstream culinary schools. "I hired a new |
| also have sprung up for ethnic groups, such as | | | | chef at one of our large, mostly Jewish communities, |
| several Japanese residences in San Francisco and | | | | and he had never made a matzo ball," he adds. "Each |
| Native American communities in Alaska and Canada. | | | | culture has its own eating and drinking preferences |
| However, in most cases, seniors from diverse cultural | | | | and holidays. A Jewish resident may expect to get a |
| backgrounds are minorities in a larger community, so | | | | Seder meal. Residents in the Southwest may |
| cultural sensitivity should be integrated with a | | | | definitely look for Southwestern or Tex-Mex food. It |
| company's core values and incorporated into staff | | | | does require extra training and understanding." |
| training from day-one staff orientation, says Jim | | | | Multicultural Memory Care |
| Concotelli, vice president of resident programs for | | | | Involving families is particularly important when it |
| Tampa, Florida-based Horizon Bay Senior | | | | comes to cultural issues for Alzheimer's and |
| Communities, which operates 74 senior living | | | | dementia-care residents, says Stephen F . W inner, |
| communities in 13 states. | | | | cofounder and chief of culture for San Juan |
| At Horizon Bay, those values are integrity, respect, | | | | Capistrano, California-based Silverado Senior Living, |
| responsibility, professionalism, and teamwork, and the | | | | which operates 20 memory-care communities in |
| two most connected with diversity are respect and | | | | California, Utah, and Texas. Because people with |
| professionalism. "Out of respect for our residents, we | | | | dementia live in their long-term memories, their |
| feel it's our responsibility to provide care that meets | | | | experiences growing up in a different country, |
| the integrity of the resident and also honors their | | | | church, or cultural environment may be among their |
| history and background," he explains. "In terms of | | | | most vivid recollections, he explains. They often |
| professionalism, we make sure that our staff | | | | remember the words to old-time songs or the Lord's |
| understands a resident not only at their cultural level | | | | Prayer, and customs, ceremonies, and cuisine may |
| but also [through] their background and history." | | | | provide comfort in what is now a confusing world, |
| Concotelli says he has not seen a lot of prejudice by | | | | Winner says. |
| other residents for their neighbors from different | | | | Silverado communities make just as much of an |
| backgrounds. Instead, most seniors enjoy learning | | | | effort as any other assisted living residence to stage |
| about other ways of life, he adds, noting that | | | | holiday celebrations, provide religious services, and |
| residents of private-pay retirement communities such | | | | serve culturally familiar meals. Residents are |
| as Horizon Bay tend to come from well-educated | | | | encouraged to share stories about items in their |
| professional backgrounds and have had previous | | | | memory boxes that pertain to their cultures. When |
| exposure to a variety of cultures and individuals | | | | activities with a cultural bent are planned, such as a |
| different from themselves. | | | | cooking club where residents learn to prepare a dish |
| To ensure that everyone's traditions are respected, | | | | from another country, every effort is made to |
| Horizon Bay lets seniors take the lead in deciding | | | | evoke a complete ambiance of that culture. For |
| what multicultural activities they would like to see in | | | | example, a Mexican meal will be accompanied by such |
| their communities. Learning what cultural traditions are | | | | props as maracas, sombreros, and mariachi music. |
| important to a resident is a key part of the initial | | | | Discussing cultural issues and potential conflicts with |
| interview and move-in process. | | | | families upfront can be particularly important in a |
| "Generally, we'll have a resident group take a | | | | memory-care environment, Winner says. He cites a |
| leadership role in designing and offering what they | | | | possible example of a Jewish family who wants their |
| feel is appropriate," Concotelli says. "Then staff | | | | loved one to maintain Jewish religious services but |
| supports them to provide the space they need or | | | | then observes or learns that the resident wandered |
| any particular types of menu items. Even if there is | | | | into a Christian event. |
| only a small group, we provide the support to honor | | | | "It's an educational process with the family that [the |
| their traditions as we would for anyone in our | | | | resident is] just enjoying the music and the |
| communities." | | | | socialization, not the philosophy or some sort of |
| One reason why fewer Asians and Latinos may live | | | | soul-saving," Winner says. "Most families get it when |
| in senior living is the value those cultures place on | | | | you spend the time to explain that it's not a |
| younger generations caring for their elders, Concotelli | | | | conversion." |
| observes. However, Carrington P oint in Fresno, | | | | When Silverado staff invite outside clergy to visit, |
| California, is an exception, with a growing Asian | | | | they take the extra step of asking that they not |
| population. "One family's loved one moved in about | | | | deliver a sermon and instead just include a general |
| five years ago, and word spread within the Buddhist | | | | open prayer or hymn that anybody of any religious |
| community that this was a nice place," he says. | | | | background could join with comfort. "If a family really |
| Since many of the residents belong to a specific | | | | says they don't want the resident involved, we |
| Buddhist group, Horizon Bay turned to its leaders for | | | | always make sure that there's another activity |
| in-service and education for staff. With their help, the | | | | planned or that we direct them to another area," |
| company added an outside meditation garden and | | | | Winner stresses. |
| has incorporated Buddhist ceremonies, customs, and | | | | In another issue with some Jewish residents with |
| cuisine into programming and dining. | | | | dementia, seemingly difficult behavior during activities |
| Celebrating Differences | | | | such as bathing may have their roots in concentration |
| At Chicago-based Brookdale Senior Living, observing | | | | camp experiences, Concotelli says. Horizon Bay offers |
| multicultural traditions is at the heart of the | | | | caregivers an educational in-service at communities |
| "Celebrations" program, which incorporates dining, | | | | with Jewish residents not only to help them |
| socializing, themed activities, events, and | | | | understand Jewish traditions but also to teach them |
| entertainment at all its approximately 419 | | | | to identify such behaviors appropriately and take |
| communities, says Joska Hajdu, senior vice president | | | | special care with personal care activities for Holocaust |
| of dining services and a key player in creating the | | | | survivors. To teach the class, the company reaches |
| program. "[Celebrations] is all about celebrating | | | | out to local Jewish groups and aging services. |
| cultures and our differences, not just of residents but | | | | Some small touches can go a long way, Winner says. |
| also associates," he adds. "It's more an event than a | | | | Because Alzheimer's and dementia-care residents |
| program and really ties together the entire | | | | already are confused by normal communication, it's |
| programming of all our activities and programs that | | | | more essential that staff speak English, so that is a |
| happen at the community level." | | | | firm requirement for staff from all ethnic |
| Each year's activities are centered on an overarching | | | | backgrounds, Winner says. Likewise, when a resident |
| theme, with mini-themes for each month. For | | | | doesn't speak fluent English, family members are |
| example, in 2004, Celebrations focused explicitly on | | | | asked to help assemble communication boards with |
| cultural origins with "Journeys to America." Each | | | | key phrases from that person's native language. |
| month celebrated a different geographic area from | | | | However, when Silverado is able to assign a primary |
| which residents or their ancestors immigrated and | | | | caregiver who comes from that same culture, a truly |
| included an Italian month, an African-American month, | | | | special connection often transpires. |
| an Asian-American month, and a Jewish month. | | | | "It's really neat to see residents share their memories |
| "Celebrations Around the World" (2007) centered on | | | | and then see staff from the same background share |
| international holidays such as Brazil's Carnival or | | | | their memories," Winner says. "It's often a real mixing |
| Germany's Oktoberfest. Another program, "Music of | | | | of ages, too. |