Real Meaning Beyond Spoken Words.

2013 Odyssey Conference

Yoonju Park & Kwangja KwonKorean Service Center

IntroductionKorean 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 Program630 Cedar Avenue. South. Minneapolis, MN55454

Community Enrichment Program 2417 Larpenteur Ave. W. St. Paul, MN

55113

Long-term Care Program1. Culturally competent assisted living2. Home management service3. Home delivery meals4. On-site congregate dining 5. Special access services6. Grocery shopping 7. Peace community garden8. Tai -Chi / Yoga Class9. Cultural /educational activities

Community Enrichment Program1. Educational programs

Workshops and conferences on Parenting, Finance, Small business, Elder law, etc.

2. Caregiver support program3. Youth leadership program4. Services for victims of

domestic violence5. Cultural consulting service6. Advocacy7. 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 and objectives

To reduce health disparities and errors caused by direct interpretation.

Goal:

Goal and ObjectivesObjectives:

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/hoardingInsecurity => Trust issue/ DoubtUncertainty => Demanding immediate decisionResiliency => Independency/ self sufficiencyNo formal education => Different

commonsense/ Difficulty on following instructions/ Different set of expectations

3. Impacts of aging

Loss of hearing Loss of mobilityLoss of family memberLoss of independencyLoss of memory/forgetfulnessInability of logical thinking processMental illnessPhysical illness

Objective 2. To learn some common mistakes

At the clinic settingAt the case-plan

assessment settingSocial 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’ challengesInability 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 resources1. 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 resources4. 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