Cross cultural insights into aged care

Eight staff, comprising care workers, nurses and managers from the organisation’s residential and community services, spent two weeks with the Chinese providers in Changchun to gain new insights into aged care.

The study group, who left for Changchun on 17 May 2014, was accompanied by SCCV’s deputy chief executive, Ian Barton, and an education consultant.

“The exchange program is being offered as a scholarship for our staff to gain experience and knowledge in aged care from a more global perspective,” Mr Barton said.

“Our partnership with the Chinese providers is a fantastic opportunity not only for our staff, but also for our organisation to know how to better provide services in future to people from a multicultural background, and in particular those from a Chinese background.”

With eight aged care homes spread across Victoria, SCCV has a large Chinese presence at its Springvale home in the metropolitan area.

Traditionally in China, ageing parents live with their children. However, the country’s one child policy over the past few decades has meant that a family member is not always available to look after their parents. And with life expectancy rising, helped by a booming economy, China now faces a major challenge of taking care of a rapidly ageing population.

“Aged care is still at its infancy in China. As an organisation, we decided we could make a contribution there and needed to be involved to improve the quality of aged care in a developing country,” Mr Barton said.

“From this exchange program, we hope to share SCCV’s best practice Australian experience aimed at improving the standard of care and support that Changchun Medical University and Be Loved Nursing Home provide to older people in China and to those living with dementia,” he added.

With a full itinerary, the two week exchange program saw the scholarship recipients being involved in workshops, hands on training and visits to various sites operated by the Chinese providers. Mentoring and coaching sessions wereas also a main features in the itinerary.

Since news of this pilot program was announced across SCCV, it has reportedly received much enthusiasm from all staff in particular those from Macleod Cottage, one of the organisation’s respite centres.

Through their own initiative, staff at Macleod Cottage donated a number of polar fleece blankets to the residents of the homes the study group visited in Changchun. The program has also attracted corporate sponsors, McArthur bank and BankVic, which provided partial funding for the trip.

As the group prepared to fly to Changchun, a return trip to Australia by a Chinese delegation from the university and aged care home is being planned for 2015. The delegation to China returned to Australia late last month.