- Why is there a need for translated information in your community?
Translated health information is essential. The mother tongue is the language people understand best – a person can express every emotion, feelings, and concepts best in their native tongue as compared to any other language. No matter how much one becomes familiar with other languages, a person understands concepts and health issues clearer in their own language. Translated information for the Indian communities helps to avoid any miscommunications that may come with English information and directs them in a structured manner on how to access local health services.
- Are there any ways that caring responsibilities are different in your culture as compared to mainstream Australian culture?
At the end of life, Indian cultural issues can affect the quality of life remaining because it is important that cultural practices and norms are understood. Decision making is patriarchal for many Southeast Asian families, and in a male dominating culture male power roles are reinforced, and the women depend on their husbands or sons to translate. This is problematic as it makes it difficult for health professionals to communicate with female patients.
Furthermore, it is very hard to fulfill certain set obligations when one's culture has profound religious and moral implications. Therefore, Indians live with joint and extended families to provide extra support for the dying patient and their immediate family members. Indian migrants who live in a nuclear family find it difficult to be caregivers of the dying, as seeing their loved one’s suffering, and dealing with their own concerns in a new culture impacts their ability to be a caregiver.
- Are there any additional challenges that someone from your culture may have, in caring for a loved one in Australia (as opposed to in their home country)?
There are many challenges that Indian people face. There is a lack of knowledge on how to access the palliative care services, and how to access the centre-link support as a caregiver. Language and cultural barriers also make the situation more difficult for the person needing care, and the carer who often finds it hard to deal with the impending loss and cost.
- Are there any differences as to how advanced disease, dying, or bereavement are understood and discussed in your culture?
Grieving the death of a person often involves lot of emotions and painful feelings. Extended family members continuously meet with the close ones of the dying person and family members must discuss the cultural rituals for how to proceed. Although many people find ways to adjust to life without a person, some find it difficult and remain in grief by staying silent and family members need to console them on daily basis. The advanced disease or dying creates many changes for the surviving family members. Waves of grief may come and go over months or years.
- How might the CarerHelp resources be best used within your culture?
My community might best use CarerHelp resources through awareness within the Indian community. The educational sessions by the peer educators need to help make the community aware of how to access the information.
Author: Neha Gogia, Academic Research Assistant at the University of Melbourne and Anti-Racism Advocate at Eastern Community Legal Centre.
Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/neha-gogia