Real Meaning Beyond Spoken Words.

Real Meaning Beyond Spoken Words. 2013 Odyssey Conference Yoonju Park & Kwangja Kwon Korean Service Center

Introduction Korean Service Center • A social service agency for the Korean Americans in Minnesota • Established in 1990 • Programs: • Long-term Care Program • Community Enrichment Program

Long Term Care Program 630 Cedar Avenue. South. Minneapolis, MN55454

Community Enrichment Program • 2417 LarpenteurAve. W. St. Paul, MN 55113

Long-term Care Program • Culturally competent assisted living • Home management service • Home delivery meals • On-site congregate dining • Special access services • Grocery shopping • Peace community garden • Tai -Chi / Yoga Class • Cultural /educational activities

Community Enrichment Program • Educational programs • Workshops and conferences on Parenting, Finance, Small business, Elder law, etc. • Caregiver support program • Youth leadership program • Services for victims of domestic violence • Cultural consulting service • Advocacy • Women’s choir

Why do we present this workshop? For the last 20 years, we have witnessed, • Direct translation does not always explain real situation of patients or clients of Asian heritage. • In the cases, when the mainstream providers understand their clients’ words as it was translated, the providers often make wrong decisions on health related cases. • Many mainstream providers do not have opportunity to learn about their clients’ background.

Goal: Goal and objectives To reduce health disparities and errors caused by direct interpretation.

Goal and Objectives Objectives: 1. To increase knowledge on cultural, historical and political background of Asian American older adults in Minnesota. .

Objectives 2. To learn common mistakes caused by direct interpretation. 3. To provide resources for assistance.

Target Population • Non-English speaking Korean immigrant older adults ( age 80 and up)

Objective 1: To Increase background knowledge on Asian American older adults in MN 1. Confucianism/Shamanism dominated culture • Distinguished rolls between a husband and a wife. • Indirect/ internalized expression is valued. • Hiding illness- illness is punishment of ancestors. • Devoted life for children / family

2. Political Impacts This generation has gone through the period of Japanese colonization, Korean War, and many other political turmoil. • Poverty=> Greed/hoarding • Insecurity => Trust issue/ Doubt • Uncertainty => Demanding immediate decision • Resiliency => Independency/ self sufficiency • No formal education => Different commonsense/ Difficulty on following instructions/ Different set of expectations

3. Impacts of aging • Loss of hearing • Loss of mobility • Loss of family member • Loss of independency • Loss of memory/forgetfulness • Inability of logical thinking process • Mental illness • Physical illness

Objective 2. To learn some common mistakes • At the clinic setting • At the case-plan assessment setting • Social service setting

Common mistakes 1. Yes /No : Different language structure In Korean language, the way of answering “Yes” or “No” is different from English. • You did not eat breakfast, did you? No, I ate. • Do you mind if I visit you one more time? ‘Yes’ means ‘No’. They want to say “ Yes, I want you to come.”

2. Can you cook by yourself? Yes, I can. • Because of their pride, they will say “yes” to the questions on abilities of self management or home management. • They say “Yes” when they do not want strangers come to their home for cleanings or other services.

3. I will take care of my wife. Ex) Some husband will say “I will take care of my wife” when his wife was getting case plan assessment even though he is not capable due to: • his pride. • privacy/family matters stay in the family. • controlling attitude.

4. How do you feel? I am fine. • Hiding sickness due to • Not to bother others • Shame • Unawareness/Sick all the time • Inability to explain • Do not want to say personal matter to strangers.

5. Do you have any problem to pay the rent or phone bills? No, I do not have a problem. They should say yes but they answer “No” because; • A social service agency such as Korean Service Center helps them. • Their own family members help them. • The failure to inform correctly inconviniences the agency.

6. How old are you? 82 years old. • But this person’s actual age is 81. In Korea, we count 9 month pregnancy as one year, so when a baby is born, the baby is one year old already.

7. Double check when they smile or saying ‘Yes’ for your questions. Sometimes your clients say ‘yes’ because; • Culturally direct refusal or denial is not considered to be polite. • Sometimes they smile when they do not understand or are confused. • Culturally expressing needs in front of strangers is not Koreans’ common practices.

Understanding clients’ challenges Inability to explain the situation logically. • Not many clients had higher education beyond elementary education due to the Korean War. • They do not understand medical terminology even though it is translated. • They are forgetful due to aging, and having hard time to understand instructions without help.

Solutions and resources 1. Select interpreters who know the client’s medical history and culture. 2. Consult with community based social service agency staff who handles the client’s personal history. 3. If the client is a participant of community based assisted living program, consult with the staff of the assisted living program before you see the client. 4.Earning trust and respect is essential to get honest responds from clients.

Solutions and resources 4. Do not assume all Asians have the same body language or cultural background. 5. Question with lay person’s language. 6. Pay attention to the body language. 7. Allow the interpreter to explain hidden meaning. 8. Avoid using a family member as an interpreters.

Community based Asian social service agencies. • Korean Service Center 612-342-1344 • Chinese Social Service Center 612-529-2602 • Vietnamese Social Services 651-641-8904 • Lao Assistant Center 612-374-4967 • Nagomia- Japanese 612-968-9132 • Hmong American Partnership 651-291-1029 • Karen Organization of Minnesota 651-788-7593

Questions

Please contact us; • Kwangja Kwon 612-342-1345 kwonksc@gmail.com Yoonju Park 612-342-1344 yoonjupark@gmail.com Thank You: 감사합니다

Real Meaning Beyond Spoken Words.