This newsletter is designed to create connections across the Long-Term Care and Assisted Living sector at Vancouver Coastal Health. It is an opportunity to share best practice and innovations, celebrate successes and get to know what our colleagues are doing at VCH, and beyond, to bring to reality our vision of Living meaningfully in community with Dignity, Connection and Well-Being. We want to build our COMMUNITY, so please share this newsletter widely and send us your stories! 

Whether it is a special dish from our childhood, a piece of music that we connect to, or a show in our primary language, we all have elements of our culture that bring us peace and comfort. So when one is suddenly forced to move out of our home and become part of a much larger community in long-term care, it can be difficult to maintain our identity. Sometimes, it is the subtle reminders of our culture that can make the biggest difference in helping residents find their place in the care home.

My mom is 99 years old. For the past 20 years, she had clearly stated that she wanted to die at home. We had everything set up to respect her wishes, but about 8 years ago, I had to move out of the country. We tried everything we could to continue to support her to live at home but she struggled to cope once I moved away.

We knew we needed to try something different. Mom is a highly sociable person so my brother and I felt that if we could find her the right care home, there was a chance that she would do well. Specifically, if she was able to get the food that she wanted, we knew that she would adjust. So, in our search for care homes, we had one requirement that was non-negotiable: they had to serve congee. We wanted to get mum adjusted quickly to her new home and the way to do this was through her stomach.

SUCCESS met that requirement and then some. Not only did mom get congee every morning, she would also go on and on about the fried rice noodles (ho fun) that they served. A Chinese chef cooks the meals and that does not go unnoticed. Over Chinese New Year, they brought in dim sum and that was such a treat for my mom. She has trouble with her memory these days but she definitely remembers the dim sum!

Culturally, my mom is in the right place. She is lucky that she is able to speak English so she would manage even in a non-Chinese home, but she really loves it when the laundry staff hold good, deep conversations with her in Mandarin and Cantonese. It makes her feel seen. The staff at the home have also asked her to help be a translator for some of their mandarin speaking residents. She is so happy to be given that role. I believe that my mom is thriving because of the cultural background of SUCCESS. She isn’t living out the rest of her life at home as she had intended, but at least she is surrounded by things that she is familiar with and that bring her comfort and joy.

Honouring Culture, One Cup at a Time

At Hamilton Village, residents have opportunities to connect with people of their own culture. Whether it is the Chinese Tea Club, the Filipino Club or the Small Group for Russian Ladies, these groups meet every month to share commonness over a cup of tea or coffee and indulge in delicacies from their home countries. These groups allow residents not only to socialize but also to reminisce of "home," people, culture, places, food, and much more.

Other ways that Hamilton Village helps honour the various cultures in the home is by having diversity in the spiritual services available, and in the volunteers who come to the home to spend time with residents. Volunteers who speak other languages are paired with residents who speak the same language. Bus outings are also chosen with residents’ interests in mind, such as going to Asian restaurants to enjoy familiar food and treats. The home aims to celebrate as many of the other special celebrations from different cultures as possible, such as Diwali, St. Patrick’s Day, Mardi Gras and many more. These celebrations help to celebrate the culture and create connection not just for our residents but also many of the staff as well. 

Resource | Supporting Cultural Diversity in Long-Term Care

"When culture is supported, residents...are better able to thrive and live in an environment where their way of being is acknowledged and accommodated."

The Ontario Centres for Learning, Research & Innovation in Long-Term Care gathered evidence and experiences from across Ontario to help understand why cultural diversity is important in LTC and what can be done to support it. Although this document was initially written to provide guidance in creating a formal structure and work plan to support cultural diversity in LTC homes in Ontario, it includes some concrete ideas that can be used anywhere.  Appendix H, starting on page 53 lists ideas for creating culturally supportive spaces, activities and events, and supporting resident spirituality 

https://clri-ltc.ca/files/2018/04/CLRI-on-Supporting-Cultural-Diversity-Long-Term-Care.pdf

Training | San'yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training

Anyone working in health care who wants to enhance their knowledge, awareness and skills when working with Indigenous people can take the San'yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training Program. The program focuses on uprooting anti-Indigenous racism and promoting cultural safety for Indigenous people. 

https://sanyas.ca/core-training/british-columbia/core-health

Research | Infusing Culture into the Long-Term Care Environment  

"Ensuring a culturally competent organization that respects and values diversity leads to a satisfying quality-of-life experience"

This article examines long-term care quality from a cultural perspective. It provides a list of strategies to include culture and cultural competence into quality-of-life programs in LTC (starting page 4). 

https://www.ejeph.com/download/infusing-culture-into-the-long-term-care-environment-to-improve-public-health-and-quality-of-life-11336.pdf

Welcome to Little Mountain and Adanac Park Lodge

Staff at Little Mountain Place, Little Mountain Court and Adanac Park Lodge are now officially Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) employees, following a four-month transition where VCH officially became the operator of the care homes. Staff gathered on Feb. 16 and 18 to mark the transition.  Each staff member wrote down memories or hopes for the future onto leaves that were then shared and placed on a tree displayed on a wall, symbolizing spring and new growth. Welcome to all of the staff and residents of these homes!