{"id":195086,"date":"2023-09-19T10:05:16","date_gmt":"2023-09-19T16:05:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.boisestate.edu\/nursing\/?p=195086"},"modified":"2025-10-13T09:00:42","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T15:00:42","slug":"fulbright-lessons-from-taiwan-healthy-aging-and-the-importance-of-language","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.boisestate.edu\/nursing\/2023\/09\/19\/fulbright-lessons-from-taiwan-healthy-aging-and-the-importance-of-language\/","title":{"rendered":"Fulbright lessons from Taiwan: Healthy aging and the importance of language"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Over the summer, School of Nursing clinical associate professor Renee Walters and 10 other educators from Boise State and local K-12 schools traveled to Taiwan. They immersed themselves in the culture and language as part of the Fulbright-Hays Title VI Group Project Abroad program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Walters\u2019 part of the project emphasized understanding cultural contexts and healthcare norms that influence how providers might interact with patients of Taiwanese descent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daily life during a Fulbright project<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Walters and other participants immersed themselves in daily Taiwainese life. Many people begin their day with exercise in public, so Walters did, too. \u201cPeople just get up, walk out and exercise in parks,\u201d Walters said. \u201cAerobics classes, tai chi classes, dance classes, just stretching \u2013 it’s all in the park.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Walters attended tai chi at 6:30 a.m. most days before catching a bus to Providence University for Mandarin classes. A significant part of the group project is developing language understanding. Walters had never studied Mandarin before arriving in Taiwan, admittedly finding it a bit intimidating.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWalters (right) during her Fulbright trip this past summer.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat was a really good experience for me,\u201d she said. \u201cI had a little bit of that appreciation for the difficulty and the challenges our non-English-speaking students experience, and experienced the humility that comes with not being a native speaker.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She also toured some local healthcare systems and spoke to their leaders, educators and frontline staff about healthcare and nursing in Taiwan. This exposed her to some unique differences as well as cultural commonalities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe reality is nursing is nursing, everywhere; humans are humans, everywhere,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Promoting healthy aging<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Walters also spent time at a senior center, one of Taiwan\u2019s government-funded strategies to promote healthy aging and help people avoid long term care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOne of the things that [the Taiwanese] intentionally create is this opportunity for recreation, assessment and social connectivity all at one time,\u201d Walters said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The centers host activities for elderly in the community and adhere to national standards for wellness. They regularly check attendees\u2019 vitals, which Walters explained is a good way to monitor their overall health and identify any issues early on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Activities are geared to help elderly people keep up their mobility, range of motion and fine motor skills. In exercise classes, participants practice motions to improve everyday life, like opening jars or getting up from a chair. Other activities focus on fine motor and cognitive skills, such as a craft with bead counting and sorting by color.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even though I don\u2019t look like a commercial\u2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
One cultural difference that stood out to Walters is the Taiwanese value for aging seen through physical activities. Attending tai chi in the mornings, she saw people of all ages and abilities participating, even if that meant some simply clapped along or tapped their foot.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWalters’ (far left) project included time at a senior center, a Taiwanese strategy for encouraging recreation, social connectivity and health assessments in one place.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPeople are willing to exercise in the park regardless of skill, regardless of mobility,\u201d she said. \u201cThere was no shame in being out and doing the best that you could, and at all ages.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She contrasts this cultural perspective with America\u2019s value of trim, youthful fitness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c[Americans] embrace people being active and fit if they look as we think active, fit people should,\u201d she said. \u201cWhich I believe is a barrier for everyday people to say, \u2018You know what? I can be a part of that, and it’s okay if I’m a part of it, even though I don’t look like a Lululemon commercial.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think that was the poignant part of it, was that it is okay to be aging, to be out and living your best you, and it doesn’t have to look like everybody else’s version,\u201d Walters said. \u201cIt was really embracing the fact that your aged body is something that is beautiful and worth seeing, and you deserve a prominent place, and it’s going to be right here in the middle of our community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Turning knowledge into shared resources<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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