The United States we know today was built by immigrants. Since the country became independent centuries ago, people from all races and cultures across the world have come here to build a new life. Though immigration rates are always changing, this still holds as true.
According to a study from 2010, 12% of the elderly population is comprised of immigrants, and that number is only set to grow as the Baby Boomers reach retirement. Whether they’ve been living in the United States of decades or a few months, older adults are more comfortable with their primary language. This is why it is so useful for senior caregivers to be bilingual.
It helps build stronger client connections
In order to build a strong bond with your client, you must be able to communicate with them. An English-speaking communicator could certainly form a bond with their non-native English-speaking client, of course, but the road would be longer. Sharing a language allows you to break down barriers.
What’s more, speaking the same language may allow you to connect with your client on a cultural level. Cultural customs can impact how a client likes certain things done around the home or how they take their food. In speaking the same language, the caregiver has knowledge of these cultural contexts and can support these needs properly. This sort of understanding can change the course of the client-caregiver relationship.
It can support those in cognitive decline
One sign of cognitive decline in bilingual older adults is the gradual loss of their secondary language. Even if they’ve spoken English among friends and family for years, their minds may start to revert to the language they spoke in their younger years. If the senior’s caregiver only speaks English, this can lead to gaps in care.
However, if the caregiver is fluent in both the client’s primary and secondary language, they will be able to provide the support they need. If the client starts to slip between the two languages, the caregiver will still know exactly what they need. With their caregiver, the senior never feels isolated and misunderstood.
Become a caregiver with Home Care Powered by AUAF
Home Care Powered by AUAF is always looking for bi or multilingual caregivers. Phoenix and the surrounding communities are built of a diverse array of individuals. We strive to hire skilled direct care workers who can support the widest variety of seniors and their families as possible.
After 30 years of serving the greater Chicago area, we are ready to extend our services into Arizona too. If you are ready to pursue a caregiving career, we would love to support you. We offer our clients the thorough training they require to provide clients with detailed, diligent care. For more information, give us a call at (623) 526-6367. We are happy to walk you through the process to determine if this career would be a good fit.
