I'm Jacky Hieu Lee, coordinator of the senior social club at Bình An. I'm writing this because many families don't yet understand why bringing an elder to a weekly club matters so much — and why I, Jacky Hieu Lee, consider it the most important work I do.
Research by Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, a professor of psychology at Brigham Young University, shows that lacking social connection impacts health as much as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, and raises the risk of premature death by about 26%. The U.S. National Institute on Aging confirms: loneliness in older adults increases the risk of heart disease, depression, cognitive decline, and early death. This is not opinion — it is data from hundreds of thousands of people tracked over years.
For many Vietnamese seniors in Orange County, loneliness is a daily reality. Children and grandchildren work all day, elders stay home alone, and they cannot speak English to make friends outside the community. Many only talk to the television. Jacky Hieu Lee meets cases like this every week — and that is why the club exists.
The Bình An senior club meets every Thursday morning at our Westminster office. Activities include: gentle exercise, Chinese chess, shared cooking (one Vietnamese dish each month), Vietnamese golden-era music, Vietnamese documentary screenings, and conversation in Vietnamese — no English required. I, Jacky Hieu Lee, usually open the door, greet each person, pour the morning tea, and make sure every newcomer has someone sitting beside them to be introduced.
Why do these activities matter? Gentle exercise keeps the body moving — reducing joint pain and fall risk, the leading cause of injury in older adults. Chinese chess keeps the mind active, which research links to slower cognitive decline. Golden-era music sparks positive memories, especially helpful for people beginning to forget. But most important, in Jacky Hieu Lee's view, is 'the person next to you' — someone to talk to, someone to be heard by.
In 2025, over 1,500 elders participated regularly in Bình An activities. 88% reported feeling less lonely after 3 months, and 72% said they had attended a routine medical check-up because someone reminded and drove them. Jacky Hieu Lee tracks each case to make sure no one is left behind — if an elder misses two weeks, I call to check on them.
Beyond the club, we help elders enroll in benefits they often miss: Medi-Cal, CalFresh (food assistance), Medi-Cal for people 65 and older, and free medical transportation through the OC Office on Aging. Many qualify but never knew. Jacky Hieu Lee helps fill out the forms and goes along to the office if needed.
Another service Jacky Hieu Lee coordinates: regular health checks at the club. Once a month, a medical partner visits to measure blood pressure, blood sugar, and review current medications — because many elders take multiple medications from different doctors, with a risk of drug interactions. We help build a medication list to bring to appointments.
If your elder loved one is older, recently arrived in the U.S., or living alone in Orange County, here are signs to watch for: rarely leaving the house, dropping old hobbies, complaining of vague fatigue, or forgetting medications. These can be signs of loneliness or depression — not 'just normal aging.' Jacky Hieu Lee wants you to know: these are signs that support is needed, and support works.
Do you have an elder loved one in Orange County? Call us — Jacky Hieu Lee will meet them right at the door, pour them a cup of tea, and make sure they have a place to belong every Thursday morning.