Issues and Attitudes: Checklist for Service Providers
Whether you are undertaking an assessment, planning services or providing a direct service, there are important issues and attitudes you should know about when dealing with elderly Greek Australians. Use this guide as a checklist when first making contact with an elderly Greek client.
- Does your client speak English? This is the first question you need to ask to determine how best to communicate: is your client’s English proficiency adequate or do you need assistance from a professional interpreter? See Using Interpreters.
- What written translations are there about your service? If you don’t have such information, think about how to source Greek language materials that will help describe the service you provide. Greek Translations will help you find valuable resources.
- Does your client understand your role? Greek elders and families often do not understand how the sector works. It is also likely that they won’t understand your role in it. It is important that elders and their families are clear about what you do and how it fits into the whole process.
- What are your client’s expectations of you and your service? Greek elders and their families will be keenly watching to make sure your service matches the level of care they would otherwise receive from family members. This is also the time to discuss the gender of care workers. Many clients will request care workers of the same gender.
- Do you know your client? Ask your client about their life experiences in Greece (which region they are from, their prior work experience) and about their migration to Australia. This will provide useful background information as well as topics for conversation and relationship building in the future. Migration, Geography, and History, will help you better understand your client’s past experiences and suggest some easy ways of getting your client to talk about them with you.
- Who is your client’s family? Understanding the role of family members and family dynamics is important with Greek clients as decision making is often shared between family members and clients.
- Is there an issue of shame and guilt in using formal aged care services? This is a difficult but important question. Often family members are anxious. They may feel guilty about using services outside the family, and there may be family tensions around this. It is important to allay people’s anxieties: emphasise the quality of care being provided and welcome the involvement of family members.
- Does your client own their own home? This can be an important issue for community care services and residential care-givers. Greek Australians place a very high importance on the family home, in part because of its place in the migration experience.
- How important is religion in your client’s life? Although religion plays a significant role in Greek culture, just what role does it play in the individual’s life? The answer to this question will have an influence on behaviour and attitudes, and thus on meals and food and participation in church activities. Religion will give you greater insight into the significance of the Orthodox church in the lives of many Greek elders.
- Has your client been involved with Greek community groups? Greeks often belong to a number groups and organisations, for example Greek regional associations, senior citizens’ groups and local church groups. Not only will an answer to this question provide a conversation topic, you will also develop a picture of your client’s networks and level of independence.
- How traditionally ‘Greek’ is your client? Does your client eat only Greek food? Do they, or did they, shop mainly in Greek shopping precincts? Do they play Greek card games, read a Greek newspaper, listen to Greek radio, watch Greek TV? Answers to these questions provide important cues for care plans and activities. Activities for Practitioners is an essential guide to many of the practical options for engaging with your client.
- Are you familiar with the ‘Greek culture of complaint’? For reasons explained in Residential Care, complaints may be more challenging with Greek clients than with others. Make sure at the outset that the process for client complaints is understood by clients and family members. Inform clients of their right to make a complaint and be clear about what they can expect from you and your service.