Understanding dementia in ethnically diverse groups: a qualitative study from Norway

Abstract

As the number of older immigrants in Europe rises, dementia within minority ethnic populations warrants attention as a significant public health problem. Equitable health and care services constitute a prioritised health policy aim on both supranational and national levels in Europe and is formulated in the Norwegian health legislation. Through interviews and focus groups with older immigrants, relatives of immigrants with dementia and health personnel, we explored the perceptions of dementia among ethnically diverse groups in Norway. The findings show that many interpret symptoms such as memory loss and disorientation as a natural part of ageing. Others consider dementia symptoms to have a psycho-social origin, deriving from social isolation. Some describe symptoms as an expression of a potentially transient sign of madness, while others point to destiny and God's will, representing basic and unalterable causes. However, another pattern of perception includes viewing dementia as a potentially transient physical illness, including a belief in a medical cure. By investigating how people with dementia and their families understand and manage the condition, one may facilitate access to relevant and adapted information. Furthermore, by exploring how people relate to their illness, health personnel may challenge explanatory models that create unrealistic expectations of cure, as well as models that, due to stigma or normalisation of symptoms, prevent the use of public care.

Migrant informal caregiver perceptions and experiences of caring for a family member with dementia: A systematic review and thematic synthesis

“…Fourteen studies contributed to this theme (Berdai Chaouni & De Donder, 2019; Czapka & Sagbakken, 2020; Hossain & Khan, 2019; Liu et al, 2020; McCleary et al, 2013; Morhardt et al, 2010; Naess & Moen, 2015; Nielsen et al, 2020; Ramsay et al, 2017; Sagbakken et al, 2020; Sun et al, 2014; van Wezel et al, 2018; Xiao et al, 2015; Yeo et al, 2002).…”

“…Sixteen studies contributed to this theme (Ahmad et al, 2020; Berdai Chaouni et al, 2020; Berdai Chaouni & De Donder, 2019; Caldwell et al, 2014; Czapka & Sagbakken, 2020; Jutlla, 2015; Kong et al, 2010; Monsees et al, 2020; Morhardt et al, 2010; Naess & Moen, 2015; Nielsen et al, 2020; Ramsay et al, 2017; Sagbakken et al, 2017, 2020; Sun et al, 2014; van Wezel et al, 2016).…”

“…Twenty‐two studies contributed to this theme (Ahmad et al, 2020; Berdai Chaouni et al, 2020; Caldwell et al, 2014; Czapka & Sagbakken, 2020; Hinton et al, 2008; Hossain et al, 2020; Jutlla, 2015; Kiwi et al, 2018; Kong et al, 2010; Liu et al, 2020; Mackenzie, 2006; Monsees et al, 2020; Morhardt et al, 2010; Naess & Moen, 2015; Nielsen et al, 2020; Ramsay et al, 2017; Sagbakken et al, 2017, 2020; Sun et al, 2014; van Wezel et al, 2016, 2018; Xiao et al, 2015).…”

How to adapt caring services to migration-driven diversity? A qualitative study exploring challenges and possible adjustments in the care of people living with dementia

“…The research project has already published 3 papers; one paper explored the perceptions of dementia and cognitive impairment among healthy older immigrants and relatives of immigrants with dementia [29]; another paper explored the experiences of health personnel with regard to identifying, assessing and diagnosing immigrants with dementia [30], while the third paper focused on different care patterns among immigrant groups [31].…”

Mild Cognitive Impairment in the Migrant Population Living in Europe: An Epidemiological Estimation of the Phenomenon

“…These reflections may therefore assume a special relevance in migrants and subjects composing minority groups. In fact, it has been shown that these individuals may have different attitudes toward mental and cognitive disturbances [7,8] and frequently have delayed contact with dedicated healthcare and social services [9]. Moreover, in Western countries, there is still a paucity and a scarce adoption of instruments and tools supporting a culture-sensitive (and, thus, more reliable) evaluation of cognitive performance [10,11].…”