Intercultural bridge builders in care

Structural, cultural and linguistic barriers make it difficult for people who have migration or refugee experience, and are in need of care, to have equal access to care services and offerings.

The “Bridge Builders in Care” project takes a low-threshold and diversity-sensitive approach to informing those seeking advice about all topics related to care. The ‘intercultural bridge builders’ are language and integration mediators specially qualified for care, who cooperate closely with local Berlin care centres and all other care-related institutions. Language barriers are reduced through language mediation in around 18 languages. In tandem assignments with care advice specialists, various care and community institutions, good professional and transcultural advice is guaranteed. Through multilingual information events, migrants in need of care and their relatives are also informed about the care system or provided with preventive information in advance of care.

People in need of care with a history of immigration or with refugee status feel significantly better informed and well cared for in the long term thanks to the targeted support. The “Bridge Builders in Care” project increases the opportunities for migrants to access the care system and successfully campaigns for equal access to participation across the country.

Project Goal

In Germany, more than 1.4 million of those aged over 65 have a migration background. According to forecasts, this will grow to 2.8 million by 2030. Their ideas about age and care are shaped by their respective culture of origin as well as by their migration experience and life in Germany. This results in major challenges for care, because these social, cultural, religious and linguistic peculiarities of immigrants must be taken into account by further developing and aligning the existing services. 

It has often been found that people with a migration background do not have the same access to care advice services and, as a result, benefit less from relief support services or that a worsening of the need for care can be prevented through early (outpatient) help. The reasons for the access barriers are said to be major information deficits, a lack of experience with the various help services, complex attitudes towards dealing with the need for care and a lack of transcultural sensitivity on the part of service providers.

Goals:

• Access barriers are reduced and opportunities for participation in nursing care structures are increased.
• People with immigration and refugee experience, of all ages, who are in need of care and their relatives are better reached through suitable access routes.
• The use of counselling and assistance services by migrants seeking advice increases. They are much better informed about services and entitlements.

Employees of various health and care facilities, and in particular those in care counselling, are made aware of how to deal consciously with transcultural diversity. The quality of counselling and care is increased through diversity-oriented counselling.

How it works

The project offers comprehensive basic qualification and part-time further training to become a language and integration mediator in care. Qualified language and integration mediators are used, and language teaching is delivered in 18 languages. There is support, information and language mediation available on site, by telephone, via video and online. Participation is free. Awareness-raising initiatives and multilingual information events are also organised to strengthen knowledge of the specific needs of target groups, and networking and collaboration is ensure with all relevant 

Who benefits

People with immigration and refugee experience who are in need of care, as well as their carers, relatives and friends. In addition, specialist consultants from Berlin care centres, nursing experts, and specialists from various care, health and migration institutions.

Funding and resources

The project has received funding from the Senate Department for Science, Health and Care Berlin of 600.000 - 800.000 EUR. In terms of human resources, the project has 15 Brückenau residents in nursing (language and integration mediators) and staff members delivering project coordination and management.