"I feel like a caged pig in here": Language, Race, and Ethnic Identity in a Case Study Hmong Nursing Home Resident Quality of Life

Mai See Thao; Heather Davila; Tetyana Shippee

doi:10.1177/07334648241271896

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"I feel like a caged pig in here": Language, Race, and Ethnic Identity in a Case Study Hmong Nursing Home Resident Quality of Life

Journal article

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"I feel like a caged pig in here": Language, Race, and Ethnic Identity in a Case Study Hmong Nursing Home Resident Quality of Life

Mai See Thao, Heather Davila and Tetyana Shippee

Journal of applied gerontology, Vol.44(2), pp.267-275

02/2025

DOI: 10.1177/07334648241271896

PMCID: PMC11758891

PMID: 39140747

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https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11758891/pdf/nihms-2012595.pdfView

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Abstract

Racial disparities in nursing home (NH) quality of life (QOL) are well established, yet, little is understood about actual experiences shaping QOL for Black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) residents in NHs. This gap extends to BIPOC residents with limited English proficiency (LEP). Drawing on Kane's (2001) and Zubristky's (2013) QOL frameworks, this case study examined QOL experiences for Hmong NH residents, an ethnic and refugee group from Southeast Asia, in a NH with a high proportion of BIPOC residents. Methods include four months of observation, interviews with eight Hmong residents and five NH staff, and one community focus group. Thematic analysis revealed significant challenges in QOL. Exacerbated by language barriers and racism, many residents reported neglect, limited relationships, lack of meaningful activities, and dissatisfaction with food. These experiences fostered a sense of resignation and diminished QOL among Hmong residents, highlighting the need for additional supports for this group.Racial disparities in nursing home (NH) quality of life (QOL) are well established, yet, little is understood about actual experiences shaping QOL for Black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) residents in NHs. This gap extends to BIPOC residents with limited English proficiency (LEP). Drawing on Kane's (2001) and Zubristky's (2013) QOL frameworks, this case study examined QOL experiences for Hmong NH residents, an ethnic and refugee group from Southeast Asia, in a NH with a high proportion of BIPOC residents. Methods include four months of observation, interviews with eight Hmong residents and five NH staff, and one community focus group. Thematic analysis revealed significant challenges in QOL. Exacerbated by language barriers and racism, many residents reported neglect, limited relationships, lack of meaningful activities, and dissatisfaction with food. These experiences fostered a sense of resignation and diminished QOL among Hmong residents, highlighting the need for additional supports for this group.

nursing home

quality of life

diversity and ethnicity

non-English speaking

Hmong

Details

Title: Subtitle: "I feel like a caged pig in here": Language, Race, and Ethnic Identity in a Case Study Hmong Nursing Home Resident Quality of Life
Creators: Mai See Thao - University of Wisconsin–Madison
Heather Davila - University of Iowa
Tetyana Shippee - University of Minnesota
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of applied gerontology, Vol.44(2), pp.267-275
DOI: 10.1177/07334648241271896
PMID: 39140747
PMCID: PMC11758891
NLM abbreviation: J Appl Gerontol
ISSN: 1552-4523
eISSN: 1552-4523
Publisher: SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC
Grant note: National Institute of Minority Health Disparities: 5R01MD010729
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by the National Institute of Minority Health Disparities [5R01MD010729 to TS]
Language: English
Electronic publication date: 08/14/2024
Date published: 02/2025
Academic Unit: Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9984696781702771

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