Cultural awareness improves dementia care for South Asian minorities

Cultural awareness improves dementia care for South Asian minorities Reduced awareness and stigma around mental health can prevent people from the south Asian community accessing dementia care

Different cultures have different perceptions of mental illnesses – including dementia. In fact, in the UK, people from the south Asian community are more likely to approach their GPs for physical than mental health symptoms. With south Asian ethnic minority groups one of the largest minority groups in western countries, improving dementia care for south Asians is becoming increasingly more important (pdf).

Almost every day there’s an article on dementia in the news, be that how chocolate consumption can boost your memory or a negative care home report. Sometimes, there is direct insight frompeople with dementia, such attendeees of last year’s 24th Alzheimer Europe conference in Glasgow. The topic of the conference was dignity and autonomy in dementia and delegates signed the Glasgow Declaration: a commitment to promote the rights and needs of people with dementia. So, how can we ensure we respect the needs of south Asian minorities? Continue reading... The Guardian