Quick viewing(Text Mode)

Cultural Profile Resource: Wales

Cultural Profile Resource: Wales

Cultural Profile Resource:

A resource for aged care professionals

Birgit Heaney Dip. 13/11/2016

A resource for aged care professionals

Table of Contents

Introduction ...... 3 Location and Demographic ...... 4 Everyday Life ...... 5 Etiquette ...... 5 Cultural Stereotype ...... 6 Family ...... 8 Marriage, Family and Kinship ...... 8 Personal Hygiene ...... 11 Leisure and Recreation ...... 12 Religion ...... 14 Food and Diet ...... 15 Health ...... 16 Language ...... 17 Cue Cards ...... 18 Disclaimer ...... 18 References ...... 18

2

A resource for aged care professionals Wales Culture Profile

Introduction This profile of the Wales cultural community is just one of the many projects undertaken by Quality Aging.

This project aims to provide relevant information for community groups and residential aged care providers to implement “best practice” strategies of care for the older individuals from diverse backgrounds.

This project is about ensuring the needs of older persons from a Wales cultural background are met.

Population trends within Wales are increasingly characterized by a diversity of people, languages and culture. Together with this trend is an aging population, also with a rich diversity of languages and cultures.

Not surprisingly then, that residential aged care providers are faced with growing demands for culturally responsive facilities and care.

This profile aims to create a tool to provide aged care providers with

 An awareness of the cultural and linguistically diverse needs of older persons from a Wales background.

 It also strives to enable the professional capability and progress of staff in the provision of culturally inclusive care; and

 The organisation’s compliance with the Residential Care Standards and National Care Standards as they pertain to the issue of cultural and linguistic needs.

The profile provides beneficial information about a variety of subjects and resources.

This is a guide only and is not intended to replace one stereotype of this culture with another; it is only intended to provide some insight into the culture. Nor does it reduce the importance of you establishing the individual cultural needs of each person as part of your care planning process.

In an effort to continue to provide you with updated information of this profile and improve its contents, we encourage readers to provide feedback by contacting Quality Aging at [email protected]

3

A resource for aged care professionals

Location and Demographic

Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and is part of the island of Great Britain and offshore islands. It is bordered by to its east, the Irish Sea to its north and west, and the Bristol Channel to its south. It has a total area of 2,064,100 hectares (5,101,000 acres) and is about 170 mi (274 km) from north to south and at least 60 mi (97 km) wide. It has a number of offshore islands, by far the largest of which is Anglesey. The mainland coastline, including Anglesey, is about 1,680 mi (2,704 km) in length. As of 2014, Wales had a population of about 3,092,000; is the capital and largest city and is situated in the urbanised area of South East Wales.

Wales has a complex geological history which has left it a largely mountainous country. The coastal plain is narrow in the north and west of the country but wider in the south, where the Vale of has some of the best agricultural land. Exploitation of the Coalfield during the Industrial Revolution resulted in the development of an urban economy in the South Wales Valleys, and the expansion of the port cities of Newport, Cardiff and Swansea for the export of coal. The smaller North Wales Coalfield was also developed at this time, but elsewhere in the country, the landscape is rural and communities are small, the economy being largely dependent on agriculture and tourism. The climate is influenced by the proximity of the country to the Atlantic Ocean and the prevailing westerly winds; thus it tends to be mild, cloudy, wet and windy.

The population of Wales doubled from 587,000 in 1801 to 1,163,000 in 1851 and had reached 2,421,000 by 1911. Most of the increase came in the coal mining districts, especially Glamorganshire, which grew from 71,000 in 1801 to 232,000 in 1851 and 1,122,000 in 1911. Part of this increase can be attributed to the demographic transition seen in most industrialising countries during the Industrial Revolution, as death rates dropped and birth rates remained steady. However, there was also large-scale migration into Wales during the Industrial Revolution. The English were the most numerous group, but there were also considerable numbers of Irish and smaller numbers of other ethnic groups, including Italians, who migrated to South Wales. Wales also received immigration from various parts of the British Commonwealth of Nations in the 20th century, and African-Caribbean and Asian communities add to the ethno cultural mix, particularly in urban Wales. Many of these self- identify as Welsh.

4

A resource for aged care professionals

Everyday Life

Etiquette

Man greeting Man - Men shake hands when greeting one another and usually throw in a "How do you do." Handshakes are usually on the lighter side and don't linger that much

Woman greeting Woman- At a first meeting, women generally shake hands. Good friends will often share a kiss on the cheek or a light hug.

Man greeting Woman- At a first meeting a regular handshake will do. Women tend to extend their hand first. Some good friends may share a kiss on the cheek or a light hug.

 Gifts are not usually exchanged at a first meeting.  If invited to a Welsh household, it is appropriate to bring good wine, liquor, or chocolates/pastries.  Make sure that gifts are nicely wrapped.  When doing business direct questions often receive evasive responses.  Arriving on time for a meeting is important as punctuality is valued and first impressions go a long way.  Business meetings tend to be structured but not too formal, beginning and ending with a bit of small talk.  Being polite is highly valued. Expect a lot of "please" and "thank you" and "sorry".  The Welsh tend to be more indirect than overly direct. Being too blunt may be considered impolite in many situations.  Pay attention to tone of voice and facial expression as it may be an indication of what is really being conveyed.

5

A resource for aged care professionals

Cultural Stereotype

The Welsh Are A Nation Of Singers

The list of world-class Welsh voices covers a vast range of music genres – featuring international stars Dame and Sir Tom Jones, classical singers and Kathleen Jenkins, pop divas and Duffy, and indie bands the , and the . Welsh male voice choirs hold a special place in Welsh popular culture, and are emblematic of the mining communities of the South Wales Valleys. With this legacy it’s easy to understand this particular misperception.

The Welsh All Wear The National Costume

Welsh school children and some community groups dress up to celebrate St David’s Day on March 1st, the feast of the patron saint of Wales. Otherwise you won’t see the tall hat, shawl, apron and petticoats unless in a museum. This costume is not in fact Welsh at all. Historically it was worn by countrywomen in England and Wales. In the late 19th century a determined Welsh woman, Augusta Hall – Lady Llanover – popularised it as the Welsh National costume. She was committed to preserving the native wool industry and promoting Welsh culture in the developing tourist business.

The Welsh Are All Obsessed With Rugby

The Welsh national sport was originally introduced from England in the mid 1850s. The Welsh formed in 1881. The national side has a fierce reputation and have never failed to qualify for the Rugby World Cup. Many have a deep sense of pride in their team. However, not everyone pours into the to watch them play. Many watch the match on TV or simply prefer another sport.

Wales Is The Same As ‘The Valleys’

Wales’ most iconic region, ‘the Valleys’, is comprised of more than 20 valleys cutting through hills and moorland in the South-east. The region had a significant role in the iron, coal and steel industries, but now all these have declined. Levels of unemployment in the Valleys are amongst the highest in the UK. The region covers only one eighth of the area of Wales. Alongside the cities of Cardiff, Swansea and Newport, the area accommodates almost three-quarters of the total population. The rest of Wales is largely rural, much of it mountainous and remote.

Welsh Place Names Are Unpronounceable.

This is probably best translated as: ‘I don’t know how to say this’. Most Welsh people — whether or not they speak Welsh — can pronounce place names. The most famous place name in Wales has to be: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. This translates as ‘St. Mary’s Church in the hollow of the white hazel near a rapid whirlpool and the Church of St. Tysilio of the red cave’. Locals, however, refer to it as ‘Llanfair P.G.’

Everyone At The Pub Speaks Welsh

Today, just 20% of the native population speak Welsh, mainly in the north and west, as well as the Isle of Anglesey. The national of Wales is an annual peripatetic festival to celebrate Welsh culture and language.

6

A resource for aged care professionals

The Welsh Are All Descendants Of Sheep Farmers Or Miners

These are just two of a wealth of possibilities in a nation steeped in agricultural and industrial heritage. Today, young Welsh people are more likely to have parents working in health and social services, education, the finance and business sector, tourism, or the hotel and catering industries. The National Museum of Wales offers compelling insights into the nation’s social and demographic history.

Wales Is Full Of Sheep

The population of sheep and lambs in Wales is nine million. This is three times that of the general population. However, unless you are involved in sheep farming or live in the hilly countryside, you may not see a sheep for months.

It Rains All The Time In Wales

Of the ten rainiest places in the UK, three are in Wales and seven in . Rainfall is related to mountainous territory, so it rains a lot in England’s Lake and Peak districts too. Looking on the bright side, annual days of sunshine in Wales and England are similar at 58 and 62 respectively.

Wales Has No Decent Cuisine

Five Welsh restaurants made the Observers’ 40 best restaurants in the UK, 2015. The list includes Milgi, a popular vegetarian restaurant in Cardiff with its own backdoor yurt; Y Polyn in west Wales, where you don’t have to dress up to feast on salt marsh lamb, Camarthenshire rib-eye and free home-made bread and butter; and The Hardwick near Abergavenny, owner-chef Stephen Terry’s restaurant bar specialising in locally sourced cuisine.

Miscellaneous English Misperceptions Of The Welsh

The Welsh have been joked about in ways that most Welsh and English people now consider racist. ‘Taffy was a thief’ comes from an 18th century English nursery rhyme. Its origins are in Celtic mythology. Taffy– a nickname for a Welsh person –comes from ‘Amaethon,’ God of Agriculture, renowned for poaching wildlife from Arawn, God of the Otherworld. The slang “to welsh” means to renege on a deal. The origins are obscure but thought to be linked to betting on horses. An early reference appeared in the Racing Times in the mid-19th century.

Wales Is Part Of England

England and Wales share a border of 160 miles based on the 8th century path Offa’s Dyke. Nobody in all of England lives further than 100 miles from Wales. Today, half a million English people live in Wales, comprising 20% of the total population. This proximity will challenge assumptions and English misperceptions of their neighbours should melt away.

7

A resource for aged care professionals

Family

Marriage, Family and Kinship

The Relative Status of Women and Men. Historically, women had few rights, although many worked outside the home, and were expected to fulfill the role of wife, mother, and, in the case of unmarried women, caregiver to an extended family. In agricultural areas women worked alongside male family members. When the Welsh economy began to become more industrialized, many women found work in factories that hired an exclusively female workforce for jobs not requiring physical strength. Women and children worked in mines, putting in fourteen-hour days under extremely harsh conditions. Legislation was passed in the mid- nineteenth century limiting the working hours for women and children but it was not until the beginning of the twentieth century that Welsh women began to demand more civil rights. The Women's Institute, which now has chapters throughout the United Kingdom, was founded in Wales, although all of its activities are conducted in English. In the 1960s another organization, similar to the Women's Institute but exclusively Welsh in its goals, was founded. Known as the Merched y Wawr, or Women of the Dawn, it is dedicated to promoting the rights of Welshwomen, the and culture, and organizing charitable projects.

WEDDING TRADITIONS

Love spoons Welsh love spoons are hand carved wooden spoons created from a single piece of love, decorated uniquely by the carver. Carving a wooden spoon for a lover was an important gesture in pre-industrial Wales. This tradition began with sailors on long sea voyages, far away from the ones they loved, carving wooden spoons to express their intentions to their beloved – and to pass the long days and nights at sea. These spoons were sent to young women as an indication a man would like to court her. Girls could receive carved wooden spoons from a number of potential suitors, and would display these in her home. The significance of carving love spoons is important as it symbolises the wish to ‘feed’ or support a lover. Each wooden carved love spoon would be decorated with personalised symbols and decorations representing the potential suitor’s hopes and wishes. Common symbols include keys, to show the key to a man’s heart; beads, to show the number of children he would like; and wheels, to show how hard he would work for a woman. The earliest known wooden love spoon dates back to 1667, and today they are still used as declarations of love, but also as a Wedding Gift, Engagement gift or anniversary gift. Many couples also choose to gift them as favours for their wedding.

8

A resource for aged care professionals

Rhamanta Rhamanta is the Welsh tradition of trying to view into the future and especially romantic futures. There are many different forms of Rhamanta. For weddings however, one tradition of Rhamanta sticks out. The couple to be married would use Rhamanta to look into their future together. They would place a shovel on top of a fire, and place two grains of wheat on top of the shovel. As the heat from the fire warmed the shovel, the two grains would move towards each other, as they grew in the heat. Eventually the two grains would jump off the shovel, which would predict the couple’s relationship future. If the grains moved together, the couple could expect a successful marriage. If the grains jumped separately, the couple may move in different directions and lead wholly different lives. Another curious tradition to view into a young woman’s romantic future took place in May Eve. Wales strongly celebrates May Day and has an abundance of customers and traditions for the day. Also known as Calan Mai, May Day is considered the start of summer. May Eve, or the day before May Day is considered a mythical and powerful night of the year, meaning a chance to practice divination, or Rhamanta. May Eve was considered the best night to predict who a person was likely to marry in the coming year. The peculiar tradition included a young woman placing a shoulder of mutton with nine holes bored into it, under her pillow. She would then take her shoes and place them at the foot of her bed in the shape of a letter T. Finally, some magic incantations were chanted over the shoes and the young lady would retire to bed. This was said to make the young woman dream of her future husband that night. A final way to ‘predict’ a woman’s future husband was said to be called ‘The Maid’s Trick’. Performed on either Christmas Eve or on one of three ‘Fairy Nights’ during the year, the Trick was performed by making up a warming fire and a feast of tasty food. Next the girl would wash her under garments in fresh spring water, then left to dry in front of the fire. Leaving the door unlocked, the girl would retire to bed. According to myth the young woman’s future husband would then enter the house and eat the feast.

Jumping the broomstick The phrase ‘jumping the broomstick’ is said to mean a couple eloping to get married, but the custom originated from a old Welsh custom called ‘Priodas Coes Ysgub’ or Broom Stick Wedding. Jumping the broom’ is still included in wedding ceremonies to this day, a symbolic action to unite a couple and used to symbolise fertility of the couple. It also signifies a couple’s entrance into their new life together and ‘sweeping away’ their previous issues and grievances. The types of broom used were constructed by tying twigs and straw together against a stick. The broom represents the threshold of the home, and can also symbolise sweeping away negativity. This helps the couple start their new life with a clean slate. Variations of the tradition include placing the broom at an angle by the rear doorway of the church and having the groom jump first, then the bride.

9

A resource for aged care professionals

Luck Quite a simple Welsh wedding tradition includes the beautiful sound of birdsong. Welsh brides believe it to be extremely good luck to be woken up by the sounds of the birds singing on the morning of their wedding! Welsh brides may also believe that if their wedding dress somehow gets ripped or torn then their marriage would be bright and happy.

Myrtle In Wales, the bridal bouquet usually contains myrtle, a symbol of love. Brides will give cuttings of this flower to their bridesmaids, as a token of luck. If the bridesmaids plant this cutting, and it then bloomed, this was a sign that they would soon marry.

10

A resource for aged care professionals

Personal Hygiene

Schedules and choices surrounding the following personal hygiene activities greatly affect the person’s sense of self, pride, dignity and confidence.

Bathing There are no particular customs in bathing; most Welsh people prefer to shower daily.

Dress

 For Men: conservative, dark or medium colored suits with shirts and conservative ties.  For Women: stylish yet classic business suits or dresses and blouses. Accessories are usually worn.  Jeans and business casual attire may be appropriate depending on the industry.

Grooming

It is important that the hygiene preferences of each person are established as part of the care planning process.

11

A resource for aged care professionals Leisure and Recreation SPORT

More than 50 national governing bodies regulate and organise their sports in Wales. Most of those involved in competitive sports select, organise and manage individuals or teams to represent their country at international events or fixtures against other countries. Wales is represented at major world sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup, Rugby World Cup, World Cup and the . At the Olympics Games, Welsh athletes compete alongside those of Scotland, England and Northern as part of a Great Britain team.

Although football has traditionally been the more popular sport in north Wales, rugby union is seen as a symbol of Welsh identity and an expression of national consciousness. The Wales national rugby union team takes part in the annual Six Nations Championship and has also competed in every Rugby World Cup, hosting the tournament in 1999. The five professional sides that replaced the traditional club sides in major competitions in 2003 were replaced in 2004 by the four regions: , , and . The Welsh regional teams play in the Pro14, the Anglo-Welsh Cup, the European Rugby Champions Cup and the European Rugby .

Wales has had its own football league, the Welsh Premier League, since 1992. For historical reasons, six Welsh clubs play in the English football league system; Cardiff City, Swansea City, Newport County, , Colwyn Bay and Merthyr Town. Famous Welsh players over the years include , , , , and . At UEFA Euro 2016, the Wales national team achieved their best ever finish, reaching the semi- finals where they were beaten by eventual champions Portugal.

Rugby league in Wales dates back to 1907. Currently two professional clubs, the South Wales Ironmen (based in ) and the (based in Wrexham) compete in the League's League 1 competition. The Crusaders competed in the top level competition from 2009–2011. A professional existed from 1908 to 1910.

In international cricket, Wales and England field a single representative team, administered by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), called the England cricket team, or simply 'England'. Occasionally, a separate Wales team play limited-overs competitions. Glamorgan County Cricket Club is the only Welsh participant in the England and Wales County Championship.

Wales has produced several world-class participants of individual sports including snooker players , , Mark Williams and Matthew Stevens. Track athletes who have made a mark on the world stage, including the 110-metre hurdler who is a former world record holder and the winner of numerous Olympic, World and European medals as well as Tanni Grey-Thompson who has won 11 Paralympic gold medals. Cyclist won gold medals at the Commonwealth, Olympic and World championships.

Wales also has a tradition of producing world-class boxers. was WBO world super-middleweight champion and then won the WBA, WBC and Ring Magazine and Ring Magazine light-heavyweight titles. Other former boxing world champions include Enzo Maccarinelli, , , Percy Jones, Jimmy Wilde, and Robbie Regan. Tommy Farr, the " Terror", came close to defeating world heavyweight champion Joe Louis at the height of his fame in 1937.

12

A resource for aged care professionals

Wales has hosted several international sporting events. These include the 1958 Commonwealth Games, the 1999 Rugby World Cup, the 2010 and the 2017 UEFA Champions League Final.

MUSIC

Wales is often referred to as "the land of song", and is notable for its harpists, male choirs, and solo artists. The principal Welsh festival of music and poetry is the annual National Eisteddfod. The Llangollen International Eisteddfod echoes the National Eisteddfod but provides an opportunity for the singers and musicians of the world to perform. Traditional music and dance in Wales is supported by a myriad of societies. The Welsh Folk Song Society has published a number of collections of songs and tunes.

Traditional instruments of Wales include (triple harp), fiddle, crwth, (hornpipe) and other instruments. The Cerdd Dant Society promotes its specific singing art primarily through an annual one-day festival.

The BBC National Orchestra of Wales performs in Wales and internationally. The is based at the in Cardiff Bay, while the National Youth Orchestra of Wales was the first of its type in the world.

Wales has a tradition of producing notable singers, including Sir Geraint Evans, Dame Gwyneth Jones, Dame Anne Evans, Dame Margaret Price, Sir Tom Jones, , , , Charlotte Church, , , Dame Shirley Bassey, Marina and the Diamonds and Duffy.

Popular bands that emerged from Wales include the Beatles-nurtured power pop group in the 1960s, Man and Budgie in the 1970s and in the 1980s. Many groups emerged during the 1990s, led by Manic Street Preachers, followed by the likes of the Stereophonics and Feeder; notable during this period were Catatonia, Super Furry Animals, and Gorky's Zygotic Mynci who gained popular success as dual-language artists. Recently successful Welsh bands include , , and . The Welsh traditional and folk music scene is in resurgence with performers and bands such as Carreg Lafar, Fernhill, Siân James and the Hennessys.

Male voice choirs emerged in the 19th century and continue today. Originally these choirs where formed as the tenor and bass sections of chapel choirs, and embraced the popular secular hymns of the day. Many of the historic choirs survive in modern Wales, singing a mixture of traditional and popular songs.

A routine needs to be established with each individual relating to their personal preference

13

A resource for aged care professionals

Religion

All the major world religions are represented across . This was set up by the to represent these faiths, many of which have been long established in Wales and make up an important part of Welsh culture. A National Survey was undertaken in 2011 which showed there has been an increase in the number of Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus living in Wales since the previous survey in 2001, 30.6 percent stated that they had no religion, whilst Christianity remains by far the largest faith in Wales.

The is divided into 6 dioceses, which each contain archdeaconries and deaneries and oversight comes from the . Christianity was initially introduced to Britain during the Roman occupation and begun to thrive after the Norman invasion. It is easy to get involved with Christianity today with many churches or chapels to choose from including the denominations Catholicism, Baptist, Presbyterian and Methodist. Wales remembers its patron saint, on the 1st of March each year, our National day.

Wales has many places named after either local or well-known saints such as Llanfair (St Mary), Llanbedr (St Peter), Llanfihangel (St Michael) and Llanarmon (St. Garmon) and of course the City of St David, the smallest city in the UK.

Islam, is now the largest non Christian faith in Wales and mosques can be found in all major towns. The Muslim Council of Wales was set up in early 2000 to serve the needs and enhance the quality of life for Welsh Muslims, by building community cohesion and encouraging strong relationships with all faith communities across Wales.

An organisation to promote Hindu culture, religion and values was set up and launched in 2013 called the Hindu Council of Wales. It provides the thousands of Hindus in Wales with one voice to promote better understanding of the culture. There are temples and groups all across Wales with the highest number of Hindus being in Cardiff, Swansea, Newport and Wrexham in that order. These include the Shree Swaminarayan Temple in Cardiff and Skanda Vale in Carmarthenshire .

There are major Diwali celebrations each year and other festival celebration include the Durga Puja heritage festival and Cardiff Ratha Yatra festival. There is, in fact, a Puja Community founded in 1973 who organise and bring to life religious festivals and Hindu music and dance events.

Buddhism has a young history in Wales but increasing numbers are turning to Tibetan or Zen Buddhist beliefs. In fact, there are three Soto Zen masters resident here and actively teaching. The Buddhist Council of Wales lists the organisations in Wales which includes the Cardiff Buddhist Centre, the largest in Wales.

Judaism is the oldest non-Christian faith established in Wales and more information can be found on the Jewish Community and Records website

You need to establish each person’s religious preference and link them into a local minister of that religion. Important cultural and religious days can be found in the Multi-Cultural Events Calendar

14

A resource for aged care professionals

Food and Diet

Welsh rarebit

Providing etymologists with a headache for centuries – it was originally known as Welsh rabbit, though at no point was rabbit one of the ingredients – this is quite simply the world’s finest cheese on toast. Individual cooks and experts will insist on certain cast-iron conditions, debating everything from the thickness of the toast to whether or not to add paprika. My personal, purist- angering tip would be to use the flavour-packed beer and cheese Y Fenni (a cheese variety from Abergavenny) instead of the usual strong Cheddar. One can always give it a French-style croque madame treatment and serve it with a fried egg on top, at which point it becomes buck rarebit.

Glamorgan

The search for the perfect vegetarian alternative to the great breakfast banger was called off at the southernmost tip of South Wales where these intensely flavoured cheese were created. The Glamorgan cheese that gave the sausages their name no longer exists and has since been replaced by the intense, crumbly white alternative from nearby . If making them yourself, don’t lower yourself to cheating by adding mashed potato to the mix, as Glamorgan sausages are a lesson in purest simplicity. You'll need leeks, cheese, seasoning, mustard, herbs, and breadcrumbs

Bara brith

Take afternoon tea anywhere in Wales and the star of the show, usually to be found nestling on the highest tier, is the famous Bara brith, a traditional fruit cake with a unique flavour. As is often the case with historic dishes, one suspects that the addition of half a pot of cold tea into the cake mix was the result of an accident made centuries ago, but without the comfortingly familiar notes of char, bara brith would be just another fruit cake. No visit to Wales is complete without at least one brith encounter.

Lamb cawl

With its bright, decorous use of daffodils, St. David’s Day may well be one of the first augers of spring, but let’s face it, it’s still teeth-chatteringly cold out there in March. Help is at hand courtesy of this classic Welsh dish, which has a history as hotly contested as anything in the great Welsh cookbook. Sharing its DNA with lobscaws from north Wales (and, it’s contested, anywhere else within a hundred square miles) and even the humble Irish stew, Welsh cawl (or soup, as directly translated) is a slow-cooked lamb and leek broth whose foggy provenance means that you can embellish it with your own ingredients and little personal touches. The crucial ingredients are well-sourced lamb, time and your patience, for which you'll be rewarded handsomely. It’s best enjoyed on a cold night in front of a roaring fireplace with a three-piece Celtic folk band playing in the corner

15

A resource for aged care professionals

Salt marsh lamb

Farming and Wales are as intertwined as love and marriage – you really can’t have one without the other. The often miserably rainy conditions that bedevil Wales in the winter are paid for in part by an expansive carpeting of lush green countryside that feeds some of the most prized livestock in the UK. Welsh black cattle has its admirers, but the Elvis Presley of Welsh meat is salt marsh lamb. Grazing on coastal areas that are often waterlogged by seawater (Anglesey in the north and the Gower in the south), salt marsh lamb dine out as much on samphire as they do grass, and their constant free-range roaming makes them much leaner than their slightly more fenced-in compatriots. The meat is luxuriously tender and has an unmistakable sweetness. Unlike a lot of lamb that gets rushed into action in order to be ready for the dinner table come Easter Sunday, salt marsh lamb is allowed to age for much longer, generally being available between July and October.

Health

Public healthcare in Wales is provided by NHS Wales, which was originally formed as part of the NHS structure for England and Wales created by the Act 1946, but with powers over the NHS in Wales coming under the Secretary of State for Wales in 1969. In turn, responsibility for NHS Wales was passed to the Welsh Assembly and Executive under devolution in 1999. Historically, Wales was served by smaller 'cottage' hospitals, built as voluntary institutions. As newer more expensive diagnostic techniques and treatments became available through medical advancement, much of the clinical work of the country has been concentrated in newer, larger district hospitals. In 2006, there were seventeen district hospitals in Wales, although none situated in Powys. NHS Wales provides public healthcare in Wales and employs some 90,000 staff, making it Wales’ biggest employer. The Minister for Health and Social Services is the person within the Welsh Government who holds cabinet responsibilities for both health and social care in Wales.

A 2009 Welsh health survey, conducted by the Welsh Assembly, reported that 51% of adults reported their health good or excellent, while 21% described their health as fair or poor. The survey also recorded that 27% of Welsh adults had a long-term chronic illness, such as arthritis, asthma, diabetes and heart disease. Enquiries into health-related lifestyle choices report 27% of the adult population are smokers, 45% admit drinking alcohol above recommended guidelines at least once a week, while 29% undertake the recommended weekly physical activity.

16

A resource for aged care professionals

Language

In his 1707 work Archaeologia Britannica , keeper of the Ashmolean Museum, noted the similarity between the two Celtic language families: Brythonic or P–Celtic (Breton, Cornish and Welsh); and Goidelic or Q–Celtic (Irish, Manx and ). He argued that the Brythonic languages originated in Gaul (France) and that the Goidelic languages originated in the Iberian Peninsula. Lhuyd concluded that as the languages had been of Celtic origin, the people who spoke those languages were Celts. (According to a more recent hypothesis, also widely embraced today, Goidelic and Brythonic languages, collectively known as Insular , evolved together for some time separately from Continental Celtic languages such as Gaulish and Celtiberian.) From the 18th century, the peoples of Brittany, Cornwall, Ireland, Isle of Man, Scotland and Wales were known increasingly as Celts, and they are regarded as the modern Celtic nations today.

The Bible translations into Welsh helped to maintain the use of Welsh in daily life. The New Testament was translated by William Salesbury in 1567 followed by the complete Bible by William Morgan in 1588.

The Welsh Language Act 1993 and the Government of Wales Act 1998 provide that the English and Welsh languages be treated on a basis of equality, and both are used as working languages within the National Assembly. Both English and Welsh are considered official , with Welsh further recognised in law as having "official status".English is spoken by almost all people in Wales and is the main language in most of the country. Code-switching is common in all parts of Wales and is known by various terms, though none is recognised by professional linguists. "Wenglish" is the language dialect. It has been influenced significantly by Welsh grammar and includes words derived from Welsh. According to John Davies, Wenglish has "been the object of far greater prejudice than anything suffered by Welsh". Northern and western Wales retain many areas where Welsh is spoken as a first language by the majority of the population, and English learnt as a second language. The 2011 Census showed 562,016 people, 19.0% of the Welsh population, were able to speak Welsh, a decrease from the 20.8% returned in the 2001 census. Although monoglotism in young children continues, life-long monoglotism in Welsh is recognised to be a thing of the past.

Road signs in Wales are generally in both English and Welsh; where place names differ in the two languages, both versions are used (e.g. "Cardiff" and "Caerdydd"). Under new regulations that came into force in 2016, the Welsh Language Commissioner requires local authorities and Welsh Government to ensure that all new or renewed road signs that use both languages to feature the Welsh language first.

During the 20th century, a number of small communities of speakers of languages other than Welsh or English, such as Bengali or Cantonese, established themselves in Wales as a result of immigration.

YOU need to be aware that just because they could once speak English, does not mean a) They necessarily spoke it fluently or extensively OR b) They have retained these skills as he/she aged OR c) That it is their preferred language.

Speaking English can be tiring to the elderly – as they are engaging in a translation-type of process. Many elderly people revert back to their native language as they aged.

17

A resource for aged care professionals

Cue Cards Quality Aging has cue cards that you may find useful and assist you in communicating with a person that speaks a language other than English

Disclaimer The information herein is a synthesis of information from a range of sources believed to be reliable. Quality Aging gives no warranty that the said base sources are correct, and accepts no responsibility for any resultant errors contained herein or for decisions and actions taken as a result and any damage from these decisions or actions.

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wales#Demography

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Wales

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=wales+maps&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahU KEwjppqzQ6efZAhVLm5QKHQFADfcQ_AUICygC&biw=1680&bih=933#imgrc=C3mQ97K JEAM4BM:&spf=1520893456242

http://guide.culturecrossing.net/basics_business_student_details.php?Id=8&CID=240

https://theculturetrip.com/europe/united-kingdom/articles/14-common-misperceptions-the- english-have-of-the-welsh/

http://www.everyculture.com/To-Z/Wales.html

https://weddrapp.com/weird-wonderful-welsh-wedding-traditions/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wales#Performing_arts

http://www.wales.com/communities/religious-groups

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/top-10-foods-try-wales

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wales#Healthcare

18

Top View