At press time for this week’s paper I will be at the California Mental Health Directors Association 7th Annual Older Adult System of Care Conference up in Napa. The keynote speaker is going to tell us how public policy needs to change in the face of multiculturalism and the new aging. Wow, am I going to be smart when I come home! The new aging has to do with both the much longer life span we are experiencing, as well as the enormous baby boomer population starting to reach retirement age. How is the rest of the world supposed to cope with all these seniors?
Multiculturalism has to do with the diversity we have in California. How do you design services to include the largest population of Armenians, and of Hmong, and of Samoans, in the world? What kind of needs will they bring? If you get meals on wheels, or go to a senior center for congregate meals, is the food something you like? If you have a chaplain come to pray with you, will they be from your own faith? Will they have even heard of your faith? Having worked as a nurse for thirty years, I know how important using touch can be in helping and healing. But I also know that many traditions have a taboo against being touched by a person of the opposite sex. My well meaning pat on the hand could cause suffering if I’m not considerate of culture. In Napa there will be other sessions on care-giving, suicide prevention and forgiveness. I hope to share the findings with you over the next few weeks. I hear they also make a tasty beverage that is high in anti-oxidants, from the grapes up there. Maybe I’ll take a break and check that out too.