Carers from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds

If you care for a family member or friend and you do not speak the local language as your first language, or you come from a cultural or community background different from the mainstream, you may face extra or different challenges in your caring role.

Why some carers miss out on support#

Language and communication barriers can make it hard to find information about the carer support services that exist. This is made harder because many people who provide care do not think of themselves as “carers” at all. They simply see it as part of being a family member.

Some carers are reluctant to ask for help or emotional support because they feel that looking after a relative is a normal cultural expectation, not something to seek outside help for.

There can also be cultural factors connected to a person’s frailty or illness. For example, a condition such as dementia may be understood differently in different communities, and bringing in support from outside the family or community may not feel culturally acceptable. Recognising these possible barriers is the first step to offering support that fits.

Many carers also prefer to deal with healthcare professionals who share or understand their culture, or who can communicate in their own language.

Care as a shared, community role#

In some communities, caring is shared widely. Several people may help look after one person, and the responsibility is seen as belonging to the whole family or community rather than to a single named carer. Because the role is spread out, the people doing the caring often do not identify as carers, and so they may not look for the support services available to them.

The idea of “respite” — a planned break from caring — can also mean different things in different cultures. Mainstream models of respite care, such as home-based respite, may not suit every community’s needs or expectations. For some families, respite may mean the whole family taking a break together rather than one carer stepping away.

Because of this, support that is designed and delivered with cultural understanding tends to work better. Some community-based organisations offer services shaped around their own community’s needs and customs.

Finding help#

• Carer support and advisory services can often arrange an interpreter when you contact them, and some provide information in languages other than English.
• Translation and interpreter services can help you understand your options and communicate with health and care providers.
• Disability advocacy and support organisations can help carers of people with a disability, including people from diverse cultural and language backgrounds, to understand their rights and find appropriate services.
• Local health and community service directories can help you find a nearby service that suits you.

If you are unsure where to start, ask a healthcare professional, a community organisation, or a local support service to point you in the right direction.

Key points#

• Communication barriers and not identifying as a “carer” can stop people from finding the support available to them.
• In some communities caring is shared by the whole family or community, which can also mean support is not sought.
• Respite and outside help may be understood differently across cultures, so culturally appropriate services work best.
• Interpreter and translation services, disability advocacy groups, and local service directories can all help.

Where to get help#