Cultural Competence in Nursing Homes

The elderly population makes up around 16% of the US population (Source). Around 4.5% of the elderly population live in nursing homes and 2% in assisted living facilities (Source). As such, it is important that the professionals working with the elderly population in such facilities are culturally competent in order to provide quality care. 

The first step to take when caring for elderly populations in a culturally competent manner is looking out for symptoms of depression. Studies have shown that depression is frequent among inhabitants of nursing homes and oftentimes goes misdiagnosed (Source). Many residents may have different ways of expressing symptoms of depression and recognizing those signs can change the life of a resident. Spending time with the resident to make them feel appreciated and valued can include having them share stories about their hometown, doing activities together, and forming friendships with other residents.

Additionally, elderly people from different racial or cultural backgrounds may expect to be taken care of in vastly different ways. Whereas one resident may expect to be treated with utmost respect and adherence, others may exhibit more friendliness and offer small tokens of wisdom from their experiences. 

Likewise, the different populations among the elderly tend to have different barriers to healthcare and communication. Certain populations may have a tendency to be from lower socioeconomic status. Other populations may have communication restrictions due to language barriers. Furthermore, cultural inhibitions may prevent a person from following a prescribed medical regimen. 

Developing cultural competence takes patience and time. However, it is critical that healthcare professionals make an effort not only within the hospital, but in all clinical settings. 

By: Sreenidhi Saripalli