Cultural Considerations in Gerontological Practice Flashcards

An older Latino client calls diabetes 'susto' brought on by a fright. Which response by the RDN is best?

Answer: Acknowledging his explanation and then teaching how food and medication affect blood glucose

Respecting explanatory models, as in Kleinman's approach, while giving biomedical education builds rapport and understanding.

Which tool helps clinicians draw out a client's own beliefs about illness?

Answer: Kleinman's explanatory model questions

Kleinman's questions ask what the patient thinks caused the illness, what they fear, and what treatment they expect.

An older Filipino client often eats white rice with every meal. Which strategy is most culturally appropriate for her blood glucose?

Answer: Control portions, try mixing in brown rice or other grains, and pair rice with vegetables and protein

Keeping a staple food in controlled portions with fiber and protein supports adherence and glycemic control.

Which approach is best when choosing education materials for older adults from diverse cultures?

Answer: Using culturally and linguistically adapted materials with familiar foods, images, and plain language

Culturally adapted, plain-language materials improve health literacy and relevance compared with literal translation.

In many collectivist cultures, who often takes part in nutrition decisions for an older adult?

Answer: Family members, often the eldest son or main caregiver

In collectivist cultures decisions are often made by the family, so involving family with the client's consent improves care planning.

An older Somali Muslim resident in long-term care refuses the meat entrée. What is the most likely reason, and the right fix?

Answer: The meat is not halal; offer halal-certified meat or vegetarian protein

Observant Muslims eat only halal meat and avoid pork and alcohol, so halal or vegetarian options respect this.

Which statement best describes cultural competence compared with cultural humility?

Answer: Competence focuses on gaining knowledge and skills, while humility stresses ongoing self-reflection and power balance

Cultural humility adds lifelong self-critique and redressing power imbalances to the knowledge-based competence model.