Living Environment
Moving into a residential aged care facility can be an unsettling experience for any person. The experience can be even more overwhelming for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, who may find many aspects of their new life are completely unfamiliar to them.
Taking into consideration residents’ cultural backgrounds and preferences in the living environment of your facility will help to create an immediate and ongoing sense of familiarity and belonging.
Addressing cultural diversity in the living environment of your facility will also assist in the provision of a safe, comfortable and culturally appropriate environment consistent with resident care needs.
Key Considerations
- Consult local communities to find out how your facility can be made more appealing and appropriate for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
- Consider the needs and preferences of your residents from culturally and linguistically diverse communities when designing and decorating private rooms and public living spaces.
- Ensure that interior decorations in public or communal areas of the facility are culturally appropriate.
- Ensure interior decorations in public areas represent the cultural diversity of the local community and clientele - eg posters in community languages, maps and pictorial representation of other countries.
- Consider the language and communication needs of your residents in the living environment of your facility - eg provide signage in community languages.
- Provide facilities for a variety of religious and spiritual observances – eg a prayer room.
Additional Resources
Contact us for more on providing a culturally appropriate living environment.
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