Walking in Two Worlds: Hmong End of Life Beliefs & Rituals

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Cultural Studies
• Gerontology

Background:

• Hmong refugees have resided in the U.S. for over 40 years.
• Many Hmong elders maintain traditional healthcare and end-of-life beliefs and rituals from their homeland.
• Limited public and healthcare system knowledge hinders culturally sensitive care for the Hmong community.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the end-of-life beliefs and rituals of Hmong elders residing in the United States.
• To identify cultural nuances in healthcare preferences among Hmong elders.

Main Methods:

• In-depth, face-to-face interviews were conducted.
• Participants included 12 Animist and 8 Christian Hmong elders born in Southeast Asia.
• The study focused on elders currently residing in the United States.

Main Results:

• Significant heterogeneity exists in end-of-life beliefs and rituals among Hmong elders.
• Both Animist and Christian elders emphasized family involvement in end-of-life care.
• Animist elders highlighted Shamanistic rituals (e.g., soul calling), while Christian elders focused on prayer.

Conclusions:

• Healthcare providers must assess individual Hmong elders' end-of-life care preferences.
• Cultural sensitivity requires openness to incorporating traditional healers and understanding family/community roles in care.
• Recognizing diversity within the Hmong community is essential for effective healthcare delivery.