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Embracing diversity, building bridges March 2007- Canada has a rich history of embracing diversity which distinguishes it from many other countries in the world. Approximately 200,000 immigrants a year from all parts of the globe continue to choose Canada as their new home and are drawn by its quality of life and its reputation as an open, peaceful and caring society. In Ontario our communities are more diverse than ever before, and these are even more pronounced within the Toronto region where many choose to settle. To fully embrace diversity, we need to understand and to consider it within a broader context than just immigration. Diversity has many faces which includes promoting, valuing, respecting and fully benefiting from each individual's unique qualities, experiences and persp-ectives. It includes individuals from different backgrounds, ethnicity, culture, language, age, religion and religious practices, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, disability and economic status. Respecting diversity means inclusion, understanding and appreciating the values, beliefs, customs, lifestyle, perspectives and interests others bring and how these differences contribute to the richness of our society. Not surprisingly, the resident population within Toronto Homes for the Aged also reflects this mosaic of society. In identifying residents' needs, strengths and desires, Toronto Homes for the Aged saw an opportunity to continue to respond and improve residents' quality of life through establishing a collaborative model of care and actively engaging local communities. This community engagement has been extremely successful in bringing richness into our homes, and has contributed to the quality of life for residents from diverse backgrounds. Across the 10 homes and our community-based programs, there is a commitment to embracing diversity and maintaining successful working relationships that promote a collaborative model. Through these relationships, Toronto Homes for the Aged has been able to build cultural competence and promote supportive and welcoming communities for a diverse population. Cultural competence refers to a set of congruent behaviours, attitudes and policies that enables the system to work effectively in cross-cultural situations and to provide care and services in a sensitive, meaningful and knowledgeable manner. To embrace diversity, we need to value and respect each individual's unique qualities and background—and we need to believe in social inclusiveness—reaching out to and developing working relationships with community groups representative of the populations we serve. To achieve competence, we need to learn to function in a particular way within the context of culturally integrated patterns of human behaviour defined by the group. Highlighting just some of the achievements that Toronto Homes for the Aged has successfully established through a collaborative model include the following. • Establishing linkages and support with the French language and Ismaili communities at Bendale Acres. • Strong linkages, liaison and working relationships with local service providers in meeting the needs of younger adults with complex health issues at Castleview Wychwood Towers , Kipling Acres and Seven Oaks (and those younger adults with intellectual disabilities at Seven Oaks). • Forging working relationships with the Korean and Jewish community service providers at Castleview Wychwood Towers and Carefree Lodge, including on-site Korean language classes for staff. • Developing the necessary connections to speciality services within the community that provides behavioural support services for residents at Bendale Acres, Castleview Wychwood Towers , Cummer Lodge and Fudger House. • Developing strong linkages with the Cantonese and Mandarin communities that support residents at Fudger House. • Working with the Jewish community in meeting the needs of Jewish residents at Cummer Lodge. • Creating a welcoming community for Japanese, Korean and Estonian residents' at Castleview-Wychwood Towers. • Establishing strong ties to the Armenian community to better serve residents at Seven Oaks. • Reaching out and engaging the Portuguese and Italian communities in continuing to support Portuguese and Italian residents at Kipling Acres. • Building working relationships with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) community service providers in order to provide more sensitive and welcoming environments to LGBT residents. The collaborative service model is not a static process, but rather needs to incorporate a fluid and flexible approach to address resident needs in a holistic, sensitive and meaningful way. To develop successful collaborative models, we need to demonstrate: 1. Understanding & respecting for the traditions & values of the group—and achieving person-centred care; 2. Leadership, shared values and common objectives; 3. Building buy-in and trust between the home, the linked community group and community; 4. Meaningful, ongoing engagement with community groups—working and evaluating together; 5. Staff training & awareness-building regarding the cultures served; 6. Finding “program champions” or “allies”, within staff and the community partners to guide the model's success; and 7. Revising or re-aligning processes, resources or the environment to improve quality of life. Toronto Homes for the Aged remains committed to building these bridges in meeting the unique needs of our residents and that contribute to a respectful, supportive and enabling environment for our residents from diverse backgrounds. |