J A N I C E M O N F R I E S ( E X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R ), H A I D O N G L I A N G ( P R O J E C T M A N A G E R )

Transcription

1 The Changing Faces of Canadian Seniors Promoting Social Inclusion and Improving Multicultural Seniors Utilization of Health and Wellness Program September, 2016 J A N I C E M O N F R I E S ( E X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R ), H A I D O N G L I A N G ( P R O J E C T M A N A G E R )

2 Agenda Changing faces of Canadian Population and Seniors Social Inclusion and Recreation Engagement Cultural Considerations and Recommendations Putting Research to Practice Learnings Acculturation Moving Forward Turning Challenges into Opportunities

3 Westend Seniors Activity Centre Edmonton We are a nonprofit charitable organization that has been in existence since In 2016 we recorded over 1,400 registered members.

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5 Our Social Inclusion Goal To celebrate our Canadian Identity by welcoming diversity; learning about the uniqueness and the challenges facing multicultural seniors and encouraging multicultural seniors to adapt, learn and contribute to Westend Seniors.

6 WSAC Embraces Multiculturalism & Promotes Social Inclusion! Staff Background (e.g., Chinese, Nigerian, Philippines, Polish) Recreation Program (e.g., Tai Chi, Yoga, Chinese painting, Spanish, etc.) Outreach (e.g., reaching out ethnic isolated seniors) Special Events (e.g., Tasty Travel, Potlucks) Volunteers (e.g., students from all over the world)

7 Changing Faces of Seniors in Canada

8 Visible Ethnic Minority Population 8 By 2017: One in five people will be a visible minority group member. Asia is the largest source of immigrants. The 2011 Census showed a slight increase in the share of immigration from Africa, Caribbean, Central and South America. Sources: Statistics Canada 2013

9 Multicultural Seniors 44% 26% 13% 17%

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11 Multicultural Seniors Are More Likely To Be Socially Isolated

12 Reduce Social Isolation Through Social Inclusion

13 What is Social Inclusion Social inclusion describes how a society values all of its citizens, respects their differences, ensures everyone s basic needs are met, and welcomes and enables full participation in that society. - Department of Health & Social Services - Government of Canada,2010

14 Why Should We Promote Social Inclusion? According to a 2012 International Federation of Aging Report commission by Employment and Social Development Canada, the Number One emerging issue facing seniors in Canada is keeping older people socially connected and active.

15 Why Should We Promote Social Inclusion? The needs assessment results indicated that a greater number of older adults are being affected by social isolation than anticipated. E.g., a single incident such as a fall or an injury can limit one s ability to maintain a senior s current lifestyle, which in turn can quickly lead to social isolation.

16 Why Should We Improve Multicultural Seniors Utilization Of Health And Wellness Programs And Activities? In certain instances, adoption of Western Behaviours such as consumption of high fat, calorie dense diet can negatively affect immigrant seniors. One UK Study showed increased prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease amongst immigrant seniors of South Asian origin. e.g., A UK study indicated that South Asian origin have 30-40% higher coronary disease mortality rates than UK-born individuals.

17 Health And Wellness Programs Are Important for Healthy Aging Funders and Government Agencies support programs that enhance the wellbeing of seniors, and positively affect healthcare costs in Canada

18 Health Care Costs of Seniors Government of Canada looking for solution to reduce health-care cost Seniors represent 14% of the total population but 44% of total health care expenditure Health Care Costs of Seniors Seniors The Rest Health Care Cost 44% 54% Canada's Population 14% 86%

19 Preventative Programs Save Money Preventative Programs: - Lower the prevalence of chronic conditions, - Reduce annuity value of the potential health-care expenditure by: $8,114/yr for a 55-year-old $11,826/yr for a 65-year-old Emery and associates (2012)

20 Considerations Regarding Multicultural Seniors

21 Examples of Cultural Considerations and Constraints A universal concept (Ho, 1976) The most significant factor in understanding Chinese interpersonal behaviour (Gilbert & Tsao, 2000) Definition (Ting-Toomey & Kurogi, 1998): a claimed sense of favourable social selfworth that a person wants others to have of her or him which can be enhanced or threatened in any uncertain social situation (p. 187)

22 Face Face can be lost, maintained, or gained (Ho, 1976) For Chinese people: Saving Face > Maintaining or Gaining Face Modified Loss of Face Scale (LOF) (Zane & Yeh, 2002) Self-face: E.g., I am less likely to start a new leisure activity because I might lose face if I had to ask questions. Other-face: E.g., The people who are important to me might lose face if they had to ask questions when starting a new leisure activity.

23 Other Considerations Time concept Working style and ethics Cultural Identity Values and Belief Cultural Practices

24 Cultural Consideration Physical Activities: Some research suggests that Chinese and Vietnamese older adults value balance and moderation and stress the importance of not overexerting oneself when participating in physical activity; however, these themes were not commonly expressed by older African Americans, American Indians, Latinos, or Whites (Wilcox et al., 2009). Many Arabic speaking groups perceived sweating, increased heart rate, and breathlessness as illness states rather than normal by-product of physical activity. In some cultures, good health and longevity are left "in the hands of a higher power" (Caperchione et al., 2009).

25 Cultural Consideration 25 In A Cultural Competence Guide for Primary Health Care Professionals in Nova Scotia(2005), we learn that people often make two assumptions when interacting with people from another culture: People who look or sound the same ARE the same People who look or sound like us ARE like us 2016/9/18

26 Cultural Consideration 26 In order to offer culturally appropriate services, seniors serving professionals need to understand the impact of culture on health and physical activity through cultural awareness and sensitivity. Resources for Cultural Competence /9/18

27 Recommendations/Best Practices to Engage Immigrant Seniors

28 Proactive Actions Encourage diversity in your organization

29 Proactive Actions Working with the families not just the seniors

30 Language Explore universal language!

31 Collaboration & Partnership

32 Benefits of Collaboration & Partnership Growth Shared Resources Inclusiveness Integration Feeling of belonging Connection Understanding Community

33 How To Connect? Engage your Community Explore Common Goals Demonstrate Benefits- Motivate Participate in Joint Initiative

34 Individual Level Strategies 34 Examining your own values, beliefs, behaviours, and assumptions. Participating in activities that help to reframe your thinking. Cultural events such as dances or gatherings Diversity-training workshops Advocating for your cultural group and others groups as well. Cultural communities need leaders. Becoming familiar with the traditions and customs of cultural groups in your community. 2016/9/18

35 Individual Level Strategies Developing programs in an environment that is mother/grandmother-child friendly. 35 Being willing to adapt activities to accommodate the clothing requirements of various cultures. Find ways to address the language barrier. E.g., Offering activity classes in conjunction with organizations that offer English language classes. 2016/9/18

36 Individual Level Strategies 36 Becoming familiar with the holidays and festivals of different cultural groups. Organize appropriate activities and events to coincide with these celebrations. Providing programs that are appropriate for a variety of physical activity levels and experience. Use plain language simpler is better. 2016/9/18

37 Individual Level Strategies 37 Designing programs with pictures from your client s culture. Example 37/k.906D/Multicultural_Resources.htm Providing translators and translated material. Example /9/18

38 Program Delivery Organization Level Ethno-specific organizations or individuals within specific ethnic communities (Community Connectors) Avoid the one size fits all approach Come and Try Days Low income adult working children (Africa Project) Volunteer Program /9/18

39 WSAC Puts Research Into Action

40 Our Social Inclusion Goal To celebrate our Canadian Identity by welcoming diversity; learning about the uniqueness and the challenges facing multicultural seniors and encouraging multicultural seniors to adapt, learn and contribute to Westend Seniors.

41 WSAC Supports Multiculturalism & Addresses Social Isolation! Projects PEGASIS: How can we help you? A Marketing Campaign for Socially Isolated Seniors Citizenship Ceremony Alberta Culture Days Africa Project Seniors Multicultural Recreation Programs Celebrating Multicultural Days Collaborating and Partnering with Other Organizations!

42 PEGASIS: How can we help you? A Marketing Campaign for Socially Isolated Seniors This project aims to decrease isolation of seniors by increasing awareness of seniors programs, services and support available through Seniors Centres such as Westend Seniors Activity Centre; and to increase seniors participation rates in activities thereby increasing their feelings of connectivity and value.

43 Multicultural Picnic

44 Looking in to the Mirror: Celebrating Alberta s Cultural Image

45 Looking in to the Mirror: Celebrating Alberta s Cultural Image The uniqueness of this project is reflected in its two-day programs happening in two different locations: WSAC invited Chinese immigrants recruited by CIE to experience Albertan culture, CIE invited Canadian seniors recruited by WSAC to experience Chinese culture.

46 Looking in to the Mirror: Celebrating Alberta s Cultural Image

47 International Badminton Tournament

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49 Chinese Day

50 Edmonton: Home for the World- Initiative for African Seniors

51 Edmonton: Home for the World- Initiative for African Seniors Focus Group Seniors Room Launch Afri-Can Celebration Visiting WSAC Program Launch Attending OBB

52 Edmonton: Home for the World- Initiative for African Seniors

53 Consultation for other Organizations Inclusion Tool Kit (Centre for Race & Culture) Somali Seniors Project (Somali-Canadian Cultural Society)

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57 We Hit a Wall Despite our best efforts we could not integrate the needs of the immigrant seniors with the needs of mainstream seniors.

58 Social is just One Inclusion NOT a Way street

59 Inclusion Process (One Way Street) South Asia Asian Middle East Dominant Canadian Culture African European Etc. South Africa Somali Etc. Poland Etc. Etc. Italy

60 5C s JM Competing Cultural Considerations Causes Confusion

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62 Barriers to Engaging Immigrant Seniors Reluctance to learn English Preference for interacting in their native tongue Insistence to have individual and established cultural practices sustained such as Male/Female Separation Desire for physical separation from mainstream seniors Expectations of free services, free food Lack of willingness to Adapt creates a barrier for moving forward

63 Policies That Can Create Barrier Changes to Canadian Citizenship Act Will Allow Immigrants to Apply Earlier and More Easily (MARCH 2, 2016) Current act: Applicants aged must meet language requirements and pass knowledge test. Proposed amendment: Applicants aged must meet language requirements and pass knowledge test. IMPACT-Seniors immigrating to Canada won t be motivated to learn English

64 How to Bridge Mainstream Organization with Multicultural Groups

65 Acculturation Acculturation refers to changing one s cultural patterns and traits to those of the host society in terms of diet, religion, and language, etc.

66 Cross-Cultural Leisure Participation Framework for Older Adults /9/19

67 Acculturation (Dissertation premise-dr. Haidong Liang) Assimilation Separation Integration Marginalization Berry s Acculturation Strategies Framework. Adapted from Immigration, Acculturation, and Adaptation, by J. W. Berry, 1997, Applied Psychology: An International Review, 46, p. 10.

68 Integration (Biculturalism) 68 Subculture: immigrants participate in certain kinds of leisure/sport activities that are not necessarily popular in the home countries of immigrants, but they had become a focus of interest among ethnic immigrant populations in the host country (Stodolska, 2000, p. 403). 2016/9/19

69 Findings from Dr. Haidong Liang s Dissertation 69 Compared to age and gender, ethnicity and acculturation play significant differentiating roles in explaining older adults spare-time activity participation.

70 What the Research Tells Us About Acculturation For multicultural seniors, the willingness (motivation) to adapt to the Canadian culture is the key to achieve social inclusion in Canada.

71 Wrong Way Right Way

72 Seniors Centres can Help!

73 Moving Forward What we have been doing: welcoming diversity learning about the uniqueness and the challenges facing multicultural seniors What we can add to this; celebrate our Canadian Identity with our immigrant seniors Educate immigrant seniors on our history and on the foundations of our Canadian cultural identify

74 Moving Forward Turning Challenges Into Opportunities If you can do only one thing Focus first on the Language Help empower immigrant seniors by learning English Find practical ways to encourage immigrant seniors to learn English Learning a language is proved to be a positive brain activity for everybody-increases mental health, and helps immigrant seniors access resources in the community, decreases their isolation and increases their independence (using transportation etc.) Eg. Millwoods Senior Centre- Functional English

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76 Incorporating Canadian Customs For example Thanksgiving. Many immigrants feel that Thanksgiving is a Canadian tradition therefore they do not celebrate it. Yet this tradition is founded on the celebration of the Harvest which in Canada our land, our wheat and our produce defines. So if you become Canadian you should celebrate what defines Canada? NAIT did a Thanksgiving dinner for international students and the students loved it. Teach multicultural groups they can maintain identity but add on to it the celebrations of Canada.

77 Encourage Seniors To Expand Their Tolerance/Boundaries Some project findings that men and women should be separated in activities, BUT -in Canada we encourage equal treatment of both genders

78 Taking Small Steps Invite immigrant seniors to witness our gender neutral activities (example see males volunteer in the kitchen program; women in the workshop) Provide typical gender specific activities but encourage the opposite gender to attend if they wish? (provide a discount to men joining ceramic classes or yoga classes?)

79 Inclusion Process (Tw0-Way Street) South Asia Asian Middle East Dominant Canadian Culture African European Etc. South Africa Somali Etc. Poland Etc. Etc. Italy

80 Canada s Vision Through multiculturalism, Canada recognizes the potential of all Canadians, encouraging them to integrate into society and take an active part in its social, cultural, economic and political affairs. Sources: Citizenship and Immigrant Canada, 2014

81 Who are We? Canadians Immigrants

82 Made in Canada-Multicultural but weaved into ONE Canadian National Fabric

83 Thank you!