ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses the Vietnamese immigration experience and the clinical approaches to the elderly Vietnamese population. When the government of South Vietnam was defeated by the North Vietnamese Communist forces on April 30, 1975, approximately 65,000 Vietnamese immediately fled the country for safety. Vietnamese refugees who escaped from their native land during the first wave possessed characteristics that are different from their subsequent compatriots. Thousands of Vietnamese citizens, unable to bear the harsh oppression, persecution, and war, poured to the open sea in overcrowded boats. Vietnamese elders, like elders from other cultures, have been losing their social status due to changes in social structure caused by industrial revolutions and technological advancements. Due to their age, Vietnamese elderly experience much more difficulty learning the new language than their children and grandchildren. Vietnamese elders who have no English language skills appear to suffer from emotional distress and other forms of psychological problems.
