Older people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds want action and not just discussion, according to British expert Naina Patel.

Speaking at the Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA) national conference in Perth, Professor Patel said older people from CALD backgrounds had “discussion fatigue”.

The director of the Policy Research Institute on Ageing and Ethnicity (PRIAE) at the University of Lancashire has conducted a landmark study investigating the attitudes of minority elders in ten different countries.

“There was a clear message that emerged: ‘we have had too much discussion, action is overdue,’” she said.

Professor Patel reminded providers that the expectations of older people from CALD backgrounds are similar to those of ‘mainstream’ clients.

The Minority Elder Care (MEC) study found that the most important issues for minority elders receiving care were privacy, safety and dignity.

There biggest concerns were waiting lists, access to information in their own language and information about their rights.

“There is no great distinction between minority elders and older people coming from a majority background,” said Professor Patel.

“They are very interested in their legal rights. In other words, they want control.”

The director of PRIAE also urged mainstream aged care providers to partner with ethno-specific organisations to deliver high quality care to people from all backgrounds.