Culture Specific Activities
Prepared by Winnie Lam, CDP, ADS Coordinator,
CASL
Presented by Yicklun Mo, MSW, Elderly Service
Department Manager, CASL
35th Anniversary
Chinese American Service League
 Located in the heart of
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Chinatown in Chicago
Families and individuals of all
ages and backgrounds for more
than 30 years
Mainly Chinese Americans
with low socio-economic
background
Child services, elder services,
employment training services,
and family counseling, and
housing and financial education
Serve about 17,000 clients
each year
Chinese American Service League
Powerpoint Prepared by Winnie Lam, Presented by Yicklun Mo
12-11-2013
Adult Day Service Center
福康耆老樂園
15 Years of
Experience
 Established in 1998
 Mission: Dedicated to helping
older adults achieve healthy
aging and maintain independence
through our person-centered
care and services
 Goals: A full range of services
that support the clients as well as
the caregivers (Therapeutic large
and small groups and individual
meetings)
Chinese American Service League
Powerpoint Prepared by Winnie Lam, Presented by Yicklun Mo
12-11-2013
ADS Target Population: Chinese
Americans
 Common demographics
 Immigrants
 Most come from mainland China and Hong Kong; a few from
Macau, Taiwan, Vietnamese and Philippines
 Gone through similar major events in life, e.g. civil war, World
War II, establishment of People’s Republic of China, colonist
government
 All can understand Chinese
Chinese American Service League
Powerpoint Prepared by Winnie Lam, Presented by Yicklun Mo
12-11-2013
Chinese Americans are all different
But…
 Very diverse characteristics
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Different dialects (Cantonese, Taishanese, Fujian, Taiwanese,
Shanghainese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, English...)
Different life experience dependent on their origin,
residence, social status
A wide range of socio-economic levels (from no education to
Phd, from no working experience, farmer to professional,
from low income to business owner…)
A wide variety of needs and interests
Chinese American Service League
Powerpoint Prepared by Winnie Lam, Presented by Yicklun Mo
12-11-2013
So how can we market the CASL ADS
program to diverse cultural
background?
Customize your activity programming to recruit targeted clusters
Chinese American Service League
Tom Kitwood’s model of Personcentered Care
 Key principles:
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Attend to the whole person
See each person as special/unique
Give respect to the past
Focus on the positives
Stay in communication
Nourish attachments
Create community
Maximize freedom and minimize control
Don’t just give, receive as well
Maintain a moral word
Chinese American Service League
Powerpoint Prepared by Winnie Lam, Presented by Yicklun Mo
12-11-2013
Adopting Person-centered Care in Activity
Programming for each cluster of clients
Needs Analysis
Evaluation
Design
Implementation
Chinese American Service League
Powerpoint Prepared by Winnie Lam, Presented by Yicklun Mo
12-11-2013
Monday’s Group: Arts with Dementia
 Established in April 2012
 Target: Clients Alzheimer’s or other
types of dementia
 Needs: A psychosocial safety net for
clients with language and cognitive
problem to express idea, thoughts and
feelings through different channels
 Design and Implementation: A quiet and
closed room, with music on, structured
or unstructured art medium exploration
under facilitation of Art therapist or
well-trained staff
 Evaluation: Regular attendance of 6
clients. With increased personal
attachment to ADS (called it as 2nd
home), their total units increased by 36
units per week since
establishment
Chinese American Service League
Powerpoint Prepared by Winnie Lam, Presented by Yicklun Mo
12-11-2013
Tuesday’s Group: Support Group
 Established in May 2012
 Target: Clients with depressive
symptoms identified through Healthy
IDEAS
 Needs: A supportive environment among
clients facing similar issues such as illness
and relationship problems to make
connections
 Design and Implementation: A closed
environment with some refreshment
provided; discussion topics facilitated by
trained staff; self-help techniques and
mindset change skills are shared by the
staff and clients
 Evaluation: Regular attendance of 9
clients. 2 cases successfully closed
after behavioral intervention; 5 clients
with no depressive symptoms
Chinese American Service League
Powerpoint Prepared by Winnie Lam, Presented by Yicklun Mo
12-11-2013
Wednesday’s Group: Singing Group
 Established in 2006
 Target: Clients with high
functioning level and interest in
singing
 Needs: Accomplishment,
recognition, social bonding
 Design and Implementation: Led
and taught by a client (a group of
15 female and male clients);
weekly practice; songs selected by
clients; staff provide minimal
assistance
 Evaluation: Regular attendance of
14 clients. Performance in at least
4 parties per year. Their total
units increased by 36 units per
week
Chinese American Service League
Powerpoint Prepared by Winnie Lam, Presented by Yicklun Mo
12-11-2013
Thursday’s Group: ADS Board
Committee
 Established in May 2012
 Target: High educational level
 Needs: Leverage knowledge and
skills, share thoughts, make
contribution
 Design and Implementation:
Committee consists of clients,
decide on topics, collect
materials, and design the monthly
bulletin board; Staff provide
minimal assistance
 Evaluation: Regular attendance
of 7 clients. Their total units
increased by 24 units per week
Chinese American Service League
Powerpoint Prepared by Winnie Lam, Presented by Yicklun Mo
12-11-2013
More person-centered activity
programming examples…
Arts and Crafts Fundraising Project
Chinese Cultural Talk by Client Chan
Focuses on
Needs, Strengths
and Interests
Museum Visit
Cultural Exchange Visit
Evidence-based Programming
Chinese American Service League
Powerpoint Prepared by Winnie Lam, Presented by Yicklun Mo
12-11-2013
Marketing is also a key…
Monthly eNewsletter, quarterly Pine
Tree newsletter, local newspaper
In 2012, ADS PSA published on local
newspaper = 31 articles
As of Oct 2013, ADS PSA published
= 41 articles
Chinese American Service League
Powerpoint Prepared by Winnie Lam, Presented by Yicklun Mo
12-11-2013
Here comes with real statistics
 Client Satisfaction: Overall satisfaction increased by 3.4%,
sat. with each activity type either 99% or 100%
 Family Satisfaction: 94% of their beloved members had
better mood, 89% had better social life
 Client Acquisition from 16% to 30%
 Client Retention from 79% to 85%
Chinese American Service League
Powerpoint Prepared by Winnie Lam, Presented by Yicklun Mo
12-11-2013
Let’s exchange idea and experience!
Yicklun Mo, MSW, Manager,
Elderly Service Department
Yicklun_mo@caslservice.org
312-791-0418 (ext 1119)
Chinese American Service League
Winnie Lam, CDP, ADS
Coordinator
Winnie_lam@caslservice.org
312-791-0418 (ext 1120)
Powerpoint Prepared by Winnie Lam, Presented by Yicklun Mo
12-11-2013
Bibliography
 Bell, V., & Troxel, D. (1997). The Best Friends Approach to
Alzheimer’s Care. Baltimore: Health Professions Press Inc.
 Kitwood, T. (1997) Dementia Reconsidered. Buckingham: Open
University Press
 Parker, S., Will, C. & Burke, C. (1999). Activities for the
Elderly: A Guide to Quality ProgrammingVolume 1. Ravensdale:
Idyll Arbor Inc.
Chinese American Service League
Powerpoint Prepared by Winnie Lam, Presented by Yicklun Mo
12-11-2013