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Discussing Diversity

Responding to Older Adults with Substance Use, Mental Health and Gambling Challenges: A Guide for Workers and Volunteers

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You may work with people who have very different backgrounds and experiences from yours. Some of these differences may include:

  • age
  • ethnocultural background or nationality
  • language
  • religion
  • attitudes about sexuality or sexual orientation (e.g., heterosexual, gay, lesbian).

Some differences may make you uncomfortable at first. But if you get to know and understand a person, you will often discover you have more in common than you thought.

In this section, we look briefly at two areas that can affect your relationship with the older adults you work with.

Ethnocultural diversity

There are more than 200 ethnocultural groups in Canada (National Advisory Council on Aging, 2005). Each group has its own values and beliefs that affect how people act, relate to others, deal with illness and pain, and think about life and death. Because of these different values and beliefs, behaviour that is acceptable to some people may make others uncomfortable. Chances are you probably work with older adults who come from groups other than your own.

Some common differences include:

  • language
  • religion
  • clothing
  • diet
  • role of family
  • sense of personal space
  • eye contact
  • touch
  • tone of voice
  • attitudes about age
  • attitudes about substance use and mental health
  • attitudes about accessing health care
  • the role of adult children in caring for aging parents
  • respect for authority
  • how they wish to be addressed (e.g., Mr or Mrs vs. first names)
  • comfort about sharing personal information
  • behaviour toward the opposite sex
  • mistrust of other cultural groups
  • values and beliefs related to dying.

It's helpful to learn about some of the customs, beliefs and values of the different ethnocultural groups of older adults you work with. For example, if you learn a few phrases in an older adult's language, he or she may feel more comfortable. When possible, ask the older person to tell you about differences between his or her culture and yours, or ask the older person's family or others in the same ethnocultural group.

Sexual diversity

Sexuality and sexual orientation remain important parts of who people are as they age. Older people who are gay or lesbian, for example, may have faced discrimination in their lives due to their sexual orientation. They may have been rejected by their family of origin, and may have created their own "chosen family" that is different from a conventional family. As a result, the person may find it difficult to feel open about his or her partner or family. By showing respect and acceptance of an older person's sexual orientation, you show respect for the person.

Respecting your diversity

Ideally, you and the older adults you work with accept and respect each other's differences. However, you may meet older adults who do not respect your differences, and who may even express racism, ageism or sexism toward you. If this happens, remember that some older adults have not had much contact with the wider world. As a result, they may be more wary or judgmental of people who are different from themselves. By showing an interest in the older adult as a person, you may help him or her to see you in the same way. Chapter 3, "Communication Tools and Techniques," gives tips to help you deal with situations where you feel you are not treated as you would like to be treated.

In Responding to Older Adults :

1 The Nature of Aging

2 Substance Use, Mental Health and Gambling Challenges in Older Adults

3 Communication Tools and Techniques
Responding To Older Adults

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