Somali

Background   Family Structure / Relationships   Language   Health Beliefs

Social Issues / Trends   Etiquette When Working With Elders

Background
Somali refugees began resettling in Minnesota in the early 1990s as a result of war in their native country.  They are some of the most recent refugees to resettle in the state following resettlement trends of earlier communities.  Their plight for survival has not been well known to mainstream communities.   

About 90 percent of Somali elders have resettled alone. In fact, many of them do not know the whereabouts of family members.  For those who are able to locate family members they often must assume financial responsibility to provide basic support.  Either way, the experiences faced by Somali elders are stressful.  These stressors are compounded by the enormous challenges of assimilating into a new country, lack of family support and dependency on others. 

Because of barriers including language, transportation, and health care, Somali elders are often unable to obtain employment to support their family, leading to additional stress.  Prior to resettlement, Somali elders relied on the family and clan for support in alleviating stress.  These support systems were integral in meeting physical, emotional, cultural, economic, and psychological needs.  The forced breakup of the family and clan units remains an impeding factor in the resettlement and adjustment of Somali elders.

Family Structure / Relationships
The family unit and clan are very important in Somali culture because they influence the teaching and learning of the culture.  Traditional Somali family structure is based on patrilineal descent. Somalis are able to easily trace their lineage as far back as three generations because traditionally individuals are given three names that denote specific ancestral relationships.  An individual’s name combines three important elements; a given name followed by the father’s name, and proceeded by the name of the paternal grandfather.  Surnames are not used in Somali culture. An individual’s full name denotes the clan to which he belongs. 

There are five clans within the Somali community. The purpose and responsibility of the clan is to resolve and mediate disputes, counsel, teach and make decisions for the community.  They perform cultural rites, negotiations, and form the base of understanding among individuals and families and with other clans.

Today many elders living in the United States are without their family.  Many of them feel isolated and lost in a country that is vastly different from what they experienced in Somalia.  Values that they were taught and experienced no longer persist due in part to significantly different circumstances where they are no longer respected by the young and members of the broader community.  Somali elders may feel depleted and without value as their roles have undergone significant redefinition.

Continuing to follow their faith, men and women have specific traditional roles.  Most men do not perform household chores, which are typically designated as women’s work. However, if an elder has relocated without his spouse he must adjust to this change and learn to perform the housework independently.  Most male elders are involved in activities within the community such as maintaining the function of the clan system.  Many of them still participate in resolving disputes within the Somali community.

Language
Language is a significant barrier for Somali elders. While many Somali elders speak a number of languages such as Amharic, Arabic and Somali, most prefer to speak in Somali.  In order for their language needs to be met, service providers should understand that interpreters need to know more than just the spoken language. The cultural boundaries and roles of the elder are equally as important. A Somali interpreter must be able to provide both linguistic and cultural relevancy.

Health Beliefs
There is great distrust and misperception of the western health care system.  Somali elders typically utilize traditional methods of healing before approaching western diagnosis and treatment.  Elders believe that all diseases and illnesses come from God. Thus, when a Somali elder becomes sick he usually seeks out a religious leader or a shaman to perform healing rituals. Somalis believe that it is God who can heal their illnesses. The concept of prevention is a relatively new one to elders because of their strong spiritual beliefs. 

Long-term care is becoming an important concern for Somali elders.  Since many of them are living without family members, they do not have the traditional option of being cared for within the family system.  Many of them must consider formal long-term care service options.  Others remain anxious about these options because they are not familiar with them.

Health concerns such as diabetes and hypertension are of great concern to Somalis because these diseases are prevalent among elders.  Somali elders tend to become ill quite often and their needs are compounded by the physical hardship they have previously endured in Somalia.

Social Issues / Trends
Immigration and citizenship are major issues, especially for elders.  Many Somalis have or are approaching the five-year limit required by current Social Security supplement rules. In order for refugee elders to retain their benefits, they are required to obtain citizenship status. This requirement places tremendous pressure on elders because language barriers create increased difficultly for them in attending classes and passing the citizenship test. The stress resulting from this issue greatly impacts the health of elders.

Another significant challenge in the Somali community is assimilation. Many elders are concerned that the younger generation is losing their cultural roots. Additionally, women are adjusting more quickly than men, leading to disputes and divisions within families.  Elders feel helpless because their traditional role is to teach, preserve traditions, and help families resolve conflicts. This concept is difficult in the United States because the younger generation is integrating so quickly into America society. 

Etiquette when working with Somali Elders

Many Somali elders practice the Muslim faith which greatly influences their everyday life.  The following are some tips to remember when working with Somali elders:

• “Salam” is a traditional greeting. Usually the younger person greats the older person first.
• No physical contact is allowed between genders
• Eat from the nearest side of the dish and use your right hand; the left hand is considered unclean
• Never breathe or blow into the dish
• Never sit in the middle of a circle or a group of people
• Do not ask someone to leave his chair or sitting place for someone else
• Suppress yawning – this is a sign of laziness