title: Aged Care Assessment Service practitioners: a review of current practice for assessment of cognition of older people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in Victoria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper describes current practices and gaps identified by Aged Care Assessment Service (ACAS) clinicians in the assessment of cognition of clients of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) background in Victoria.
  
  
  METHODS
  A web-based survey, exploring practices and challenges faced by clinicians in assessing CALD clients and their families, was sent to all Victorian ACAS managers to distribute to their teams. Three focus groups were also conducted with ACAS clinicians to further explore these issues.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-nine web-based surveys were returned and 21 ACAS clinicians attended a focus group. Challenges reported included the availability and quality of interpreters, and variability in training received and confidence in assessing cognitive impairment in CALD clients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ACAS clinicians reported that assessment of cognition for those of CALD background was challenging. Based on this feedback, practice tip sheets were developed as educational aids to assist ACAS staff.
authors: National Ageing Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors: Freda
authors: F
authors: Vrantsidis
authors: Dina
authors: D
authors: Logiudice
authors: Victoria
authors: V
authors: Rayner
authors: Briony
authors: B
authors: Dow
authors: Stephanie
authors: S
authors: Antonopoulos
authors: Susannah
authors: S
authors: Runci
authors: Daniel W
authors: DW
authors: O'Connor
authors: Betty
authors: B
authors: Haralambous
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003071:Cognition; D003144:Communication Barriers; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards*; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014739:Victoria
keywords: aged care assessment; culturally and linguistically diverse; dementia; older people