Language-Specific Senior Living

How Language Barriers Affect Senior Living

Entering a new living environment can be intimidating and daunting for older adults as they adapt to new surroundings and meet new people. Add a language barrier, and the dynamic shifts greatly. A language barrier can impact the following areas of senior living:

• Medical care. Doctors and nurses on staff will be aware of your medical needs, but communicating problems and new needs that arise can become difficult. Many facilities can bring in translators to help, but they may not be present during an emergency. In these instances, language barriers can become life-threatening.
• Language barriers and dementia. Staff at some facilities are trained to deal with the challenges that come with memory loss and dementia, but they may not be fluent in their patients’ native languages. That can pose great problems when it comes to care and safety.
• Loneliness and depression. If you cannot communicate with others, then you may be more likely to feel depressed or lonely. Many senior living facilities and communities can be great places to meet new people, but that benefit becomes a challenge if you cannot communicate comfortably.

Finding a Senior Living Facility That Caters to a Specific Language

Since language barriers at senior living communities can lead to serious problems, finding a facility that offers your preferred language is important for your well-being. Not only can you communicate more easily, but you also may find other perks in these facilities that cater to specific languages.

• Medical benefits. Without a language barrier, residents and staff can talk easily about medical care. In an emergency, a patient can express their concerns, ask questions, and get the immediate care they need. When there are no language barriers, residents can feel more comfortable that their medical needs are being met.
• Cultural benefits. Many language-specific senior living facilities cater to the cultural needs of their patients. Staff at these communities are familiar with the customs associated with the culture and will abide by them. This also helps residents feel more comfortable.
• Religious benefits. If many of the residents of the senior living facility follow a particular religion or spiritual practice, then religious services are also often offered in the preferred language. That can include prayer groups and religious services in a particular language.
• Entertainment benefits. Many senior living facilities provide entertainment for residents to enjoy in their preferred language. That may include cultural musical programs, speakers, and dancers. This type of entertainment can also foster camaraderie and friendships among residents.
• Food and diet benefits. Many senior living facilities that cater to a certain language also incorporate foods that residents may prefer.  Facilities with many Japanese residents, for example, may offer traditional Japanese dishes along with Japanese language services. You might find additional food options at facilities that cater to specific nationalities or other cultural backgrounds.
• Activity benefits. Activities can help older adults make new friends and find shared interests through various hobbies and arts-and-crafts programs. Many senior living communities incorporate diverse faith-based activities or help residents celebrate festivals and holidays through fun and educational activities.

Studies suggest that implementing language-assistance services and more cultural competency training for care providers can help significantly reduce language barriers and improve the quality of health care for older adults with limited English proficiency.1 In fact, patients who receive care in their preferred language were able to identify illness sooner, lower their risk for readmission, and improve health care transitions within their institutions.2

The benefits of language-specific senior living go far beyond the words that are spoken. Better communication is the priority, but language-specific senior living can also improve the quality of life for older adults.

Along with language services, there are several key things to consider when choosing a senior living facility. Watch our video below to learn more as you search for care that caters to your loved one’s needs.