The Understanding and Experiences of Living with Dementia in Chinese New Zealanders

Bibliographic Data

ID15465643
AuthorsGifford Cheung (0000-0002-0239-9356, University of Auckland, corresponding author), April Yuehan Su (University of Auckland), Karen Wu (0000-0003-0792-1745, Mental Health Services for Older People, Counties Manukau Health, Auckland 2025, New Zealand), Karen C Wu (Counties Manukau District Health Board), Blake Yue (0000-0002-6009-9714, Massey University), Susan Yates (0000-0001-7551-5517, University of Auckland), Adrián Martínez-Ruiz (0000-0003-4974-6674, University of Auckland), Rita Krishnamurthi (0000-0003-0869-2083, Auckland University of Technology), Sarah Cullum (0000-0003-0785-9101, University of Auckland)
Year2022
Volume19
Issue3
Pages1280-1280
Publication date2022-01-24
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph19031280
PMID35162305
OpenAlexW4210516221
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited23

Little is known about the lived experience of dementia in the New Zealand Chinese community. This study aims to explore the understanding and experiences of living with dementia in Chinese New Zealanders. Participants were recruited from a memory service and a community dementia day programme. In-depth interviews were conducted by bilingual and bicultural researchers. The recorded interviews were transcribed and thematically analysed. Sixteen people living with dementia and family carers participated in this study. The first theme revealed the lack of understanding of dementia prior to diagnosis, the commonly used term of "brain shrinkage" and that dementia is associated with getting older. The second theme covered the symptoms experienced by people with dementia and how family carers found anhedonia and apathy particularly concerning. The third theme highlighted the tension between cultural obligation and carer stress. The fourth theme is about the stigma attached to dementia. Our results provide some insight into ways to improve dementia care for Chinese New Zealanders, including targeted psychoeducation in the Chinese community to improve awareness and to reduce stigma, access to person-centred interventions, and learning about strategies for healthy ageing to live well with dementia, and emotional support and psychoeducation for family carers to reduce carer stress

Apathy · Caregiver stress · Cognition · Dementia · Disease · Psychiatry · Psychoeducation · Psychological intervention · Stigma (botany · Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research · Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving · Medicine · Psychology · Gerontology

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access