Community Care
Home-based, or basic community care services provided by local councils are not used by elderly Greeks nearly as much as social support services like Planned Activity Groups. The difference in rates of participation between home-based services and social support may be explained by the cultural values held by elderly Greek people and their families.
Local council aged care services are provided in the client’s home and this by its nature contradicts the traditional Greek view of family members caring for the elderly at home. When house cleaning, meal preparation or showering and dressing are to be undertaken by an someone unrelated to the family, there may be resistance and apprehension on the part of the elderly person and their family.
As in the residential facility setting, feelings of guilt and shame may be experienced by family members when an elderly person receives home care services. Family members may equate it with their family’s inability to fulfil their traditional obligations and responsibilities.
Client Expectations
Another issue for providers of home care to Greek elders is the expectation that home maintenance, cleaning and meals offered by council will be on par with previous, family-based arrangements. There may be quite a mismatch between client expectations and service limitations, and this may be further impacted by the pride that Greek Australians typically have in their homes.
Greek Australians have a much higher home ownership rate than the general population. For immigrants the struggle to own their own home is pronounced, and this may relate to how particular elderly Greek Australians are about home maintenance.
Gender and Care Workers
Families and clients often ask that direct care or personal care be of the same gender as the elderly person. For many Greek elders it is not acceptable to have personal care tasks undertaken by someone of the opposite sex. If council services are unable to accommodate such a request, it is important to clearly explain the role of care staff as part of a government service which has been provided to many clients, both men and women, for many years. This is not to say that such an explanation will alleviate the client’s apprehension. Your client may still refuse services on these grounds.
Communication
It is important for providers of home-based community services to implement strategies to overcome some of these tensions. Background cultural information is essential in building a rapport between staff visiting an elderly Greek person in their home and the elderly client. Use How to Engage Your Greek Client, as well as Basic Greek Phrases in Aged Care to overcome communication barriers and strengthen your engagement with your client.
Cross cultural training and efforts by staff in mainstream services to communicate with Greek elders and to understand their cultural background will bridge differences and encourage participation. Coupled with appropriate, clear information on the services available from council, this approach will help to demystify the service system for Greek elders and promote greater peace of mind about using them.
