He was responding to Bhagabat Charan Das, a spokesman for the Indian Senior Citizens Centre in Manchester.
Das claimed that the needs of ethnic minority elderly people were completely different from the needs of the indigenous population, and that they therefore needed culturally sensitive services.
He argued that the aged Indian population was more susceptible to physical and mental problems because they had spent a lifetime living in damp, overcrowded housing and had been concentrated in low-paid jobs.
But Beider warned that, while he recognised elderly black and minority ethnic communities may need specific services, this could lead to segregation.
“The best type of service needs to be delivered in a diverse environment that encourages people to live together and support each other,” he explained.
“We need to develop new types of care provision services that reflect this diversity in terms of delivery and change.”
The sector had to recognise that people were living in a consumerist society where tenants would be more aware of their rights, Beider added.
He said the Housing Corporation and housing associations would have to challenge insensitive behaviour by staff, change their business attitudes and develop new and more diverse services.
A spokesperson for Hanover Housing Association said employing people from various ethnic minorities was the most effective method to deal with equality issues.
However, Beider argued this could be seen as mainstream organisations opting out of their responsibility to provide services to these communities. “Race equality is not a ‘black’ issue. All staff should have responsibility for race issues, just as they have responsibility for housing management and other key functions,” he stressed.
Source
Housing Today
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