Page 10 - Just Better Care Possible Magazine - Issue 4

Cultural considerations key to aged care
Needs and preferences change dramatically across cultures and families.
Multigenerational living arrangements are common place across many cultures. The Japanese tradi- tionally have extended family living in one house while in China, caring for an elderly parent is a legal obligation. Living under one roof is also common in Italian, Vietnamese and Indian family homes. What happens when this home dynamic shifts?
In-home support is a preferred option for many families in Australia as it provides flexible support. But discussing this change with an older family
member can be a difficult conversation, especially when it goes against a traditional family model of care.
Oday Hasan, owner of Just Better Care Brisbane South and East, says having an open conversation with the customer and their family is key to determining cultural considerations, as well as personal living preferences.
“Usually when you’re providing care, it’s not just about the customer, the family’s involved too. So it’s good to get to know everyone who will be involved with the care process,” Oday said.
“Every culture is different, meaning every older person accessing support perceives accepting care in a different way. In many cultures, family look after their elderly members -
it’s a responsibility. So telling a potential customer that someone else will look after them,
they can find it tough.
“That’s why I started talking to the customers in person, to help them understand why we would be supporting them and helping them to understand that nothing in their life really needed to change.”
Oday has worked in community care for the better part of a decade. For the past few years,
he has routinely visited his local mosques and churches, spoken
at community events, and sat down with numerous families, to address the needs of older members in his community and talk about support options.
“Before we take on a customer, I like to visit them in their home and strike up a conversation about their life. I like to get to know them, their family situation, and any previous experience
with support services. It’s about the people, not just the process. The initial contact makes them feel like people care about them; they’re not just a number in line.
“Getting support can be a big transition for some people – they can feel as though they are losing independence – so you need to make sure they feel comfortable and supported.”
A bit about Oday
Oday has lived in Brisbane for about 10 years. He opened the Just Better Care Brisbane East franchise in early 2017, followed by the Brisbane South office a few months later. His passion for working in community care first transpired while studying at university and working for a disability support provider.
“I like working with people. From my first introduction to the industry while at university,
I realised that’s what I wanted
to do. I wanted to run my own business, and do it in an industry where I could work with people and support them to lead great lives,” he said.
“When I get someone the right support, whether it’s a trip to the mosque or help at home, and I see it making a difference in their life, that’s what means the most to me. That’s what motivates me.”
To find out more about the services we offer to support people to live independently, go to local.justbettercare.com
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