How to know Poles better!

1. COMMUNITY PARTNERS PROGRAM FOR POLISH AND EASTERN EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT INNITIATIVE How to know Poles better! CulturalBrief Polish Australian Welfare Association www.polishwelfare.org.au

2. POLAND – AT GLANCE

3. POLAND – AT GLANCE • One of the largest countries in Eastern Europe • Capital Warsaw • Under communist regime- part of Communist block 1944-1981

4. Who am I? • Ex-servicemen, misplaced persons, • Prisoners of war, Nazi concentration camps or Soviet Gulags • Victims of forced labor under Nazi regime, many of whom were taken from their families as teenagers • War trauma survivors suffered torture, starvation, separation from families, • Suffered communist regime oppression, imprisonment and persecution • Experienced demoralization, humiliation • Very patriotic and have strong sense of national identity

5. Who Am I ? • I have arrived in Australia in 1950-60’s • Rarely speak about my war experiences • Did not get a chance to get an education • Worked mostly in low skilled jobs • Often I have no extended family • Often can be extremely socially isolated and suffer from depression • I am often vulnerable to financial abuse

6. Who am I? • I often suffer from anxiety and do not respond well to any change • When I develop dementia- I go back to “Bad times” and suffer emotionally • I had to learn survival skills and might have challenging/ difficult behaviours not necessarily related to dementia • I lose English language skills with age

7. ageing, Aged care services and me! • I think that my children have moral obligation to care for me when I’m old • I often have unrealistic expectations placed on my family • I am reluctant to use interpreters and am fearful of technology • I do not plan and access services at crisis point • I will present “my best” during ACAT assessment and will not tell you about some health problems

8. Aged care services and me! • I am reluctant to pay for service • I have limitations to understand difficult concepts related to services delivery, service agreements, rights and responsibilities • I have fear of disclosing too much personal information • I am reluctant to sign papers/forms • I have unrealistic expectations and difficulties to understand services guidelines • I have negative perception of Residential care services as “Place where you to die”

9. LIFESTYLE AND LEASURE • Most activities evolve around the house : and garden • Polish Clubs and seniors groups • Activities organised by Church • Bingo • Women- meeting friends - keep social networks • Man – often become reclusive after loss of spouse

10. LANGUAGE & COMMUNICATION • Polish is belongs to Slavic group of languages: Russian, Ukrainian, Czech, Slovak and Byelorussian • Polish history – changes on boarders, cultural and linguistic influences - German from West and Russian from East • Many people are bi-lingual/bi-cultural or multilingual • Polish remains the key language for older Polish people

11. LANGUAGE & COMMUNICATION Had no opportunity to learn English and have very basic level of English Very Basic or no written English, difficulties in writing and filling out forms Difficulty to understand “aged care jargon” Lack of literacy skills/fear of signing any documents 11

12. TRADITIONS CELEBRATIONS • Name-days • Traditions/celebrations evolve around religions festivities • Christmas • Easter • 1st November - All Souls Day

13. RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY • Polish history, culture and traditions are closely linked with Catholic faith and Church • The majority of Poles - over 80% are Roman Catholics. • Other religions practiced by Poles are: Jewish, Eastern Orthodox and Protestants, Seventh Day Adventists and Jehovah Witnesses.

14. RELIGION & SPIRITUALITY • Most Polish elderly are closely linked with the Polish Catholic Parishes. • Polish Priests and nuns maintain close links with Polish community and provide pastoral care and support in peoples homes and aged care facilities • Rosary, picture of the “Black Madonna” or Christ and a photo of the Pope, John Paul II, are the most precious religious items for many Polish people

15. FOOD AND DIET Staple foods: • Bread preferably sour dough rye – served with most meals • potatoes • Cabbage – fresh and sour • Small goods – sausages, ham • Meat: pork, chicken and beef • Polish cuisine- similarities with Eastern European and European cuisine • Most Poles would like to be served fish on Fridays • Black tea with lemon and sugar or honey and herbal teas are most popular drinks • Most elderly do not like to drink cold water and are often at risk of dehydration in summer • Alcohol –strong spirits are part of diet

16. MOST POPULAR POLISH DISHES Beetroot soup - barszcz Cabbage rolls-golabki Dumplings –pierogi 16 Pork rissoles - kotlety Bigos -sauerkraut Doughnuts – paczki

17. SUMMARY Aged Poles are in majority of cases torture and trauma survivors Most have limited English and basic level of education Most are Catholics and consider faith important part of their life Culturally appropriate food as important aspect of meeting their needs in aged care services Many have no family and are socially isolated Most are reluctant to access aged care service Majority access residential care at crisis point Families experience a lot of guilt and stress at the time of admission to RACF 17

18. For help support and advice –contact : POLISH AUSTRALIAN WELFARE ASSOCIATION Community Partners Program EWA WALKOWIAK IRMINA SULKOWSKA 9716 0554 cpp@polishwelfare.org.au www.polishwelfare.org.au