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Psychosocial Support Services for Older Adults in a Vietnamese Community

Psychosocial Support Services for Older Adults in a Vietnamese Community. Presented by HongChau Thuy Tang CSU Long Beach, School of Social Work May of 2012. --Introduction--.

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Psychosocial Support Services for Older Adults in a Vietnamese Community

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  1. Psychosocial Support Services for Older Adults in a Vietnamese Community Presented by HongChau Thuy Tang CSU Long Beach, School of Social Work May of 2012

  2. --Introduction-- • Since very few, resources and culture-based psychosocial support services are in place for the Vietnamese immigrant elders in their native languages in Orange County, California, the proposed program will focus on addressing and fulfilling their needs. • Many researchers indicated that social activities and interactions with others from their native country could help elder immigrants improve and adapt to a new life easily in the United States as well as enhance their cognition with daily life functioning (Mui & Kang, 2006). • According to U.S Census Bureau (2002), the older immigrant population is not proficient in English, which limits their access of resources through the formal social services • In a study of the immigrant elders and elders in minority communities such as Cambodian, Vietnamese, Ukrainian, and Jewish, reports of loneliness and isolation were widespread. However, the majority of the elders in these communities were unaware of any social or health services that could help them overcome these problems and adjust to their new situations (Strumpf, Glicksman, Goldberg-Glen, Fox, & Logue, 2001).

  3. --Social Work Relevance-- -According to Lam-Tang (2008), the activity centers are becoming the primary destinations for older adults because the centers provide older adults learning experiences and coping activities for daily living (ADL) within a safe and secure environment. With these ADL, older adults can improve their interaction and socialization towards independent living. -Alwin’s and Wray’s (2005) study concluded that the support group is extremely important to the aging population and it allows geriatric social workers to find ways to improve the quality of life for older adults.

  4. --Cross-cultural Relevance-- - According to Becker (2003), immigrant elders and elders in the minority communities have difficulties in adapting their lives to a new setting. As a result, they are not fully aware of services that can help them overcome the problems to adjust their life to new situations. Therefore, social workers need to be more involved with the needs of immigrant older adults and to provide appropriate and culturally competent assistance to this population. Moreover, the social workers must advocate for the services in native languages of the older adults that are needed in immigrant communities.

  5. --Methodology-- a) Target Population - Vietnamese older adults in Orange County at the age of 60 and up with limited and non-speaking English skills. - Approximately 135,548 Vietnamese reside in Orange County (U.S Census Bureau, 2000) • b) Strategies Used to Identify & Select a Funding Source • - Use web researching • - Web sources: federal, state, county, and private foundation. • c) Identify the Funding Source Selected • - State of California (www.a.gov.grants.html) • - U.S Department of Health and Human Services • (www.hhs.gov/grants) • - National Institutes of Health (www.nih.gov) • - National Council on Aging (www.ncoa.org) • - Grant.gov (grant.gov) • - California Department of Aging (ww.aging.ca.gov) • - California Wellness Foundation (www.tcwf.org)

  6. --Methodology--(continued) • d) Sources Used for the Needs Assessment • California Department of Aging (CDA) • Because Statistical and descriptive data from the CDA were used to assess how this department monitors the health, well-being, and life quality of older adults. • e) Projected Budget Range and Categories • By sharing the CAD's goals, the Activity Center of Older Adults (ACFOA) will provide comprehensive psychosocial services with cultural support to enhance the quality of life for the elderly Vietnamese population in the Orange County area.

  7. --Grant Proposal-- Five things will include in the grant proposal such as program summary and description; population served; sustainability; program objectives; program evaluation. a) Program Summary and Description: - These services ACFOA intend to provide to Vietnamese elderly in Orange county area such as health educational workshops, socialization and support groups; nutritional and dietary information along with exercise groups; and community outreach. Moreover, the proposed support services also include attending local meetings to distribute informational brochures and educational booklets to the Vietnamese community. b) Population Served: - Vietnamese older adults in Orange County at the age of 60 and up with English, limited, and non-speaking English skills. c) Sustainability: - 60% of annual funding of ACFOA's proposed program is mainly from Wencheng Corporation, and some of the private businesses and foundations. - 25% of the operation funds will be provided from federal, state, and local grants. - 15% of remaining funds will be covered from sliding scales and in-kind donations.

  8. --Grant Proposal--(continued...) d) Program Objectives: - Provide cultural support services to the Vietnamese elderly to assist them in adapting to a new environment and with health, wellness, and language issues. - Provide an individual clinical consultation as well as a treatment plan to the Vietnamese elderly along with case management and direct services, - Conduct presentation on nutrition, exercise, and a healthy lifestyle. - Locate resources and coordinate services to meet the needs of the Vietnamese elderly. - Provide transportation services to the Vietnamese elderly from home to ACFOA facility and other essential appointments, including medical appointments. e) Program Evaluation/ Outcomes: By providing culturally based psychosocial support services, individual therapy treatments, education about health, wellness, and nutrition, local resources, and transportation - < 75% of the Vietnamese elderly (VE) will improve their quality of life and be more aware of stressors that adversely affect their wellness. - < 50% of the VE at the center will understand more about their health condition and other related illnesses. - < 75% of the VE will become healthier and their life expectancy will lengthen. - < 30% of the VE at the center will meet their needs and improve their quality of life. - < 50% of the VE will not miss their appointment with their doctors and they will likely engage in more daily healthy activities and be active in the community.

  9. Lessons Learned/Implications for Social - Grant writing is a very important skill that social workers need to develop, especially during times of budget cuts. Not only do social workers work in direct practice, but they also work behind the scenes ensuring the long-term continuation of programs. - Social workers strive to improve the quality of life for individuals who are unable to help themselves. Creating a program that is comprehensive and incorporates multiple domains including the community, family, and individual/ peer are most effective when working with groups. Presenting the effectiveness of programs is vital and most important in receiving funding. Therefore, the social worker must present program effectiveness by evidence-based practice. The ability to show effective deliverable outcomes and research methods will be necessary because not only to receive funding, but also to improve the quality of life for those individuals who are seeking cultural support services. - Major challenges in this grant writing process were to make sure that all the deadlines were met by the funders. Since the field of grant writing is extremely competitive, the grant writer determined the directions for following the funder's requirements and its criteria. One of the most important is the agency’s demonstration of an effective evidenced-based thorough research. In addition, showing program uniqueness may ensure appropriate funding levels. This grant writer had to be detailed, unique, and evidence-based in order to distinguish her grant above the others that are being submitted.

  10. --References-- - Alwin, D., & Wray, L. (2005). A life-span developmental perspective on social status and health. Journal of Gerontology, 60B, 7-14. - Becker, G. (2003). Meanings of place and displacement in three groups of older immigrants. Journal of Aging Studies, 17, 129-149. - California Department of Aging. Retrieved from http://ww.aging.ca.gov - California Wellness Foundation. Retrieved from http://www.tcwf.org - Grant.gov. Retrieved from http://www.grant.gov - Lam-Tang, E. (2008). Review and analysis of programs. Retrieved from http://www.socialserviceforelders.org - Mui, A. & Kang, S. (2006). Acculturation stress and depression among Asian immigrant elders. Social Work, 51(3), 243-250. - National Council on Aging. Retrieved from http://www.ncoa.org - National Institutes of Health. Retrieved from http://www.nih.gov - State of California. Retrieved from http://www.a.gov.grants.html - Strumpf, N., Glicksman, A., Goldberg-Glen, R., Fox, R., & Logue, E. (2001). Caregiver and elder experiences of Cambodian, Vietnamese, Soviet Jewish, and Ukrainian refugees. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 53, 233-252. - U.S Census Bureau. (2000). Total number of Vietnamese population in Orange County. Retrieve from http://www.census.gov - U.S Census Bureau. (2002). The older foreign-born population in the United States: 2000. Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/prod/2002pubs/p23-211.pdf - U.S Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from http://www.hhs.gov/grants

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