Mei-Chen Chen1, Hsiu-Li Huang2, Yi-Chen Chiu3, Ping-Keung Yip4, Suh-Mian Wu5, Wen-Chuin Hsu6,7, Woan-Shyuan Wang3, Yueh-Fang Huang3, Yea-Ing L Shyu3,8. 1. Department of Public Health, Taoyuan City Government, Taiwan. 2. Department of Long-Term Care, College of Health Technology, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taiwan. 3. School of Nursing, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. 4. Neurological Center, Cardinal Tien Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan. 5. Department of Nursing, Yuanpei University of Medical Technology, Hsinchu, Taiwan. 6. Dementia Center, Department of Neurology, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan. 7. School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. 8. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Improving quality of life for community-dwelling older persons with dementia symptoms (PWDS) and family caregivers requires promoting dementia-friendly communities (DFC). However, little is known regarding older Taiwanese Aboriginal PWDS' experiences of living in the community. We explored these experiences for older Atayal PWDS and their families in Taiwan. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This grounded theory research used in-depth interviews to explore the perspectives of older PWDS (n = 4), their family members (n = 3), and key persons (n = 10) in an Atayal community in northern Taiwan. Data were analyzed using constant comparative analysis. Participants were interviewed between January and May 2015. RESULTS: Participants' experiences were captured by the overarching concept of "low dementia awareness, high family-like ambience in the community." Despite the low/absent community awareness of dementia, older Atayal PWDS functioned as freely in the community as at home due to a family-like supportive environment. Aboriginal PWDS and their families also faced environmental challenges, e.g., environmental constraints and barriers to transportation access. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Our results suggest that this Aboriginal community and culture offer important DFC components, and these strengths could be further studied to enhance DFC models elsewhere. Despite these strengths in supporting PWDS, environmental challenges to transportation access still cause difficulties for PWDS and their families and need improvement. The Atayal community's low dementia awareness suggests that services introduced must be culturally appropriate and nondisruptive to existing supportive helping systems. Our study can be a model for future studies to understand and identify PWDS' needs in Indigenous communities.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Improving quality of life for community-dwelling older persons with dementia symptoms (PWDS) and family caregivers requires promoting dementia-friendly communities (DFC). However, little is known regarding older Taiwanese Aboriginal PWDS' experiences of living in the community. We explored these experiences for older Atayal PWDS and their families in Taiwan. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This grounded theory research used in-depth interviews to explore the perspectives of older PWDS (n = 4), their family members (n = 3), and key persons (n = 10) in an Atayal community in northern Taiwan. Data were analyzed using constant comparative analysis. Participants were interviewed between January and May 2015. RESULTS:Participants' experiences were captured by the overarching concept of "low dementia awareness, high family-like ambience in the community." Despite the low/absent community awareness of dementia, older Atayal PWDS functioned as freely in the community as at home due to a family-like supportive environment. Aboriginal PWDS and their families also faced environmental challenges, e.g., environmental constraints and barriers to transportation access. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Our results suggest that this Aboriginal community and culture offer important DFC components, and these strengths could be further studied to enhance DFC models elsewhere. Despite these strengths in supporting PWDS, environmental challenges to transportation access still cause difficulties for PWDS and their families and need improvement. The Atayal community's low dementia awareness suggests that services introduced must be culturally appropriate and nondisruptive to existing supportive helping systems. Our study can be a model for future studies to understand and identify PWDS' needs in Indigenous communities.
Authors: Liv Thalén; Camilla Malinowsky; Isabel Margot-Cattin; Sophie N Gaber; Kishore Seetharaman; Habib Chaudhury; Malcolm Cutchin; Sarah Wallcook; Kottorp Anders; Anna Brorsson; Louise Nygård Journal: Dementia (London) Date: 2022-04-17
Authors: Marjolein Thijssen; Ramon Daniels; Monique Lexis; Rianne Jansens; José Peeters; Neil Chadborn; Maria W G Nijhuis-van der Sanden; Wietske Kuijer-Siebelink; Maud Graff Journal: Int J Geriatr Psychiatry Date: 2021-12-06 Impact factor: 3.850