Social Service for Asian American

Essay by spoonfulUniversity, Bachelor'sA, January 2008

download word file, 7 pages 3.0

Introduction The purpose of this study is to prevent isolation and unnecessary functional decline among Korean and Chinese older adults by enhancing their social, physical and mental well being through promotion of social interaction and healthy living. The Turner Senior Resource Center, located in Ann Arbor of Michigan, is a community outreach program of the University of Michigan Health System Geriatrics Center. The center recognizes that cultural and ethnic diversity is important for effective programs, so the center is trying to adapt to the unique needs of minority individuals through its Asian Outreach Program. Currently, the center severs two major Asian groups: Chinese and Korean. The majority of these seniors speak very little English. Because of their limited English, They are not fully assessable to the resources and the programs that are available to them. My study will come up with innovative idea for effective outreach program for the seniors.

In the United States, Asian Americans are the fastest growing racial group. According to Census 2000, Asian and Pacific Islanders will account for 6.5 percent of the nation's population by the year 2025, and by 2050 they will account for 9.3 percent. Consequently, by 2050 about one of every 10 Americans will have Asian and Pacific Islander roots. In spite of the increasing number of Asian Americans, there are many barriers to their receiving social services as compared with other Americans. They are likely to be neglected and receive little attention from government and research.

Among the many barriers, language is the major problem for Asian American seniors receiving the social services. Asian Americans are a very diverse group. According to the 1980 census, an Asian American elder is described as an older person (age 60 and over) who is Chinese, Filipino, Asian Indian, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, or Pacific Islander...