Abstract
The purpose of this exploratory and descriptive study was to examine old-age dementia in the Hmong community of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Formal and informal Hmong leaders were interviewed to determine the prevalence of dementia in the Hmong community and how it is perceived and experienced. Interviews revealed few cases of dementia among the Hmong. Dementia was perceived as a natural part of the life cycle, rather than as a devastating disease that robs individuals of their autonomy. Treatment is not sought for dementia. Some of the common manifestations of dementia, such as wandering and combativeness, were rare or non-existent in the Hmong community. Individuals with dementia are cared for in their sons' homes. Nursing home placement in advanced dementia was only acceptable if sanctioned by the entire extended family. Further research on the Hmong perception of and experience with dementia needs to be conducted in other Hmong communities to validate the generalizability of these results.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Pollit. PA. Dementia in old age: an anthropological perspective, Psychological Medicine 1996; 26: 1061–1074.
White LR. Towards a program of cross-cultural research on the epidemiology of Alzheimer's disease, Current Science 1992; 63: 456.
Kleinman A. Rethinking Psychiatry: From Cultural Category to Personal Experience, New York: The Free Press, 1988.51.
Office of Refugee Resettlement, 1990.
Cheong-Klessig Y et al. Health practices of Hmong refugees, Western Journal of Nursing Research 1988; 11: 647–660.
Mc Innis KM. The Hmong in America: Providing Ethnic-Sensitive Health, Education and Human Services, Dubuque: Kendall/Hunt, 1990.
Clement D. Border crossing, Minnesota Medicine 1992; 75: 24–29.
Waters DA, Rao, RB, Petracchi HE. Providing health care for the Hmong, Wisconsin Medical Journal 1992; 91: 642-651.
Alfvin CB. A cultural chasm, Milwaukee Magazine 1995; February: 39–45.
Gold SJ. Mental health and illness in Vietnamese refugees, Western Journal of Medicine 1992; 157: 290–294.
Muecke MA. Caring for Southeast Asian refugee patients in the USA, American Journal of Public Health 1983; 73: 431–438.
Hein J. The Hmong cultural repertoire: Explaining cultural variations within an ethnic group, Hmong Studies Journal 1997; 2: 1–13.2
Warner M, Mochel M. The Hmong and Health Care in Merced, California, Hmong Studies Journal 1998; 2: 39–58. 46.
De Vos GA. Selective permeability and reference group sanctioning: Psychocultural continuities in role degradation. In: Yinger JM, Cutler SJ, eds. Major Social Issues: A Multidisciplinary Approach. New York: Free Press, 1978.
Conquergood D. Establishing the world: Hmong shamans, CURA Reporter 1989; XIX: 5–10.
Zbiral J. Buffalo horns and shaking bells: my friendship with a Hmong shaman, Shaman's Drum 1991; Winter: 16–23.
Westermeyer J. Folk medicine in Laos: a comparison between two ethnic groups, Social Science Medicine 1988; 27: 769–778.
Morgan JD. Young People and Death. Philadelphia: The Charles Press, 1987.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Olson, M.C. “The Heart Still Beat, But The Brain Doesn't Answer”. Theor Med Bioeth 20, 85–95 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009984110011
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009984110011