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In addition to advocating for additional funding, the BCCPA is also exploring the development of new resources to assist care-providers, including a best-practice guide relating to the provision of culturally appropriate care within the continuing-care sector, as well as supporting culturally competency training for front-line workers and health-care leaders.

Given the evolving landscape involving care and Canada’s ethnic diversity, the BCCPA selected the subject of culturally appropriate care as its first topic for this season’s Care to Chat speaker series. The nearly sold-out event — entitled Embracing Diversity: Providing Culturally Appropriate Care for British Columbia’s Aging Population — will delve into strategies and approaches to provide culturally appropriate care in the continuing-care sector, in order to improve both the quality of life and health outcomes for B.C. seniors.

Moderated by veteran CBC journalist Belle Puri, the Care to Chat event will include a panel of health-care experts and seniors’ care-providers to discuss the importance of incorporating culturally competent care into B.C.’s continuing-care sector, as well as the need for better access to ethnically specific care homes. The panel will also highlight current opportunities, such as providing activities and religious services for diverse populations, recruiting front-line staff to meet specific linguistic needs, allowing space for customs and beliefs regarding death, and how to meet nutritional preferences and restrictions on a limited budget.

Canadians are understandably of the cultural mosaic we have woven over several generations. With that demographic shift comes an aging population with diverse needs and expectations. There is no time better than the present to expand the conversation about how we achieve culturally appropriate care for seniors.

Lara Croll is a health human-resources analyst at the B.C. Care Providers Association.

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