Cultural Considerations for Chinese­American Nursing Home Residents

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CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR CHINESE­AMERICAN NURSING HOME RESIDENTS 1

Cultural Considerations For Chinese­American Nursing Home Residents Brianne Dunkleberger Villanova University, NUR1101 12/02/2013

Many healthcare facilities have adopted culturally sensitive care as part of their patient centered team approach, but some facilities such as nursing homes, have been known to have less diversity­until the early 2000s. Now increasing in diversity, these healthcare facilities are having to accommodate different customs and incorporate them into their patients’ care. The Chinese culture in particular are a growing population within nursing homes (Chan & Kayser­Jones 2005). This has created some cultural conflict because it is hard for non­Chinese speaking staff to communicate with their Chinese patients, traditional Chinese medicine is often not understood and can interact with some western medications, many Chinese nursing home residents are not used to eating western food and do not have the option of rice with their meals, and their end­of­life beliefs are often not respected or carried out at their families’ wishes.

Traditionally, the Chinese practice “filial piety,” the respect and honor for parents and older adults (Chan & Kayser­Jones 2005). Often elderly Chinese will live with their children whenever unable to fully care for themselves. This is an act of respect and dignity. With economic unpredictability, many Chinese­American’s have full time jobs and have to consider nursing home care for their loved ones instead of having the option of living at home with them. However, because English is not a primary language for many Chinese­Americans, communication continues to be an issue in the nursing home. This creates a sense of “need” for

CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR CHINESE­AMERICAN NURSING HOME RESIDENTS 2

the rest of the family to constantly be at

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