The challenges and contributions of Hmong American elders: A personal and professional perspective

Author(s):

Lee, Song

Format:

Book section

Publisher:

Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2012.

Language:

English

Abstract:

Stereotypes and misunderstandings of elders in the Hmong American community have serious consequences; they can cause damage to elders' self-worth and diminish the empathetic assistance they need from their families as well as professional caregivers. Common perceptions of them as frail and senile, for example, overlook the reality that elders make important contributions to their families and society. While many communities need to improve care and perceptions of their elderly, the situation of the Hmong American community is complicated by two factors: research and literature focused on its elderly population is very limited; and Hmong culture, for thirty years, has undergone major transitions in response to immigration and subsequent resetlement in the United States. Furthermore, health and wellness of Hmong American elders go beyond caring for visible or measureable illnesses. For them, sound mental health and social satisfaction are as important as physical health. Additionally, from anecdotal data taken from my personal experience and professional practice, the Hmong American elderly population needs to feel acknowledged, respected, and understood in the context of their overall well-being. 1 This chapter will address the situation of Hmong elders in the United States aged fifty and older. As refugees of the Vietnam War who sought political asylum during the 1970s and 1980s, most arrived in the United States when they were in their late teens or older; usually they came as part of family groups, whether immediate or extended. Even though the U.S. Census Bureau defines an elder as someone above age sixty-five, Hmong people tend to regard anyone in their fifties or older as an elder. This perception of age is influenced by two factors: a cultural expectation to take on adult roles at an earlier age than is common in the West; and the deterioration of Hmong health at an earlier age due to traumatic war and refugee camp experiences. Currently, about 2.6 percent of the Hmong American population is above sixty-five years old. Hence, the elderly population aged fifty and above is higher. 2 Most important, regardless of their number, the contributions of the elderly are immeasurable to their families, clans, communities, and American society. The roles elders play continue to ensure the vibrant health of Hmong culture as well as the financial prosperity of the Hmong American community. Today, for example, Hmong American elders are involved in organizing Hmong festivals and holiday celebrations that are a thriving part of America's rich cultural diversity in general and of Hmong American life in particular. To increase awareness of and respect for Hmong American elders, in this essay I address their roles, contributions, and emerging needs. To supplement the limited professional literature focusing on Hmong American elders, I integrate their voices from personal interactions, surveys, interviews, and radio programs in which I was involved. In addition, I incorporate professional and personal experiences shaping my personal epistemology, that is, the "conceptions of knowledge and knowing" that derive from what I have learned through my life history. I am a counselor, therapist, educator, researcher, daughter, and daughter-in-law of elderly Hmong Americans. Consequently, my views are influenced by both Western training in counseling and lifelong experiences with Hmong customs and values 3 . © 2012 by the Minnesota Historical Society. All rights reserved.

ISBN:

9780873518482 (ISBN)

Identifier:

HmongStudies1746