In this electronic guide, Alzheimer Europe encourages health and social care workers:
- to provide people from different ethnic communities with culturally appropriate and understandable information about dementia and existing services and support
- to make sure that people understand that dementia is a medical condition and that health and social care systems in Europe offer support and care to people with dementia and their families
- to explore the kind of support or services that would be helpful, adapt existing support if necessary and develop new innovative approaches that reflect the needs and wishes of people from different ethnic communities
- to develop cultural awareness, sensitivity and competence through an ongoing process of learning and exchange between and amongst health and social care workers and people from minority ethnic groups.
Alzheimer Europe further calls for health and social care workers to recognise that every person with dementia is unique. Although people with dementia may share some characteristics with other people from a particular ethnic group, it is important not to lose sight of the individual. Awareness and acceptance of cultural differences should not overshadow recognition of the many things that people from all ethnic groups have in common. It can and should provide a solid basis from which to explore the needs and wishes of each person.
The 2020 electronic guide “Intercultural dementia care for health and social care providers: a guide” was developed and translated with support from the Robert Bosch Stiftung.
Click here to view online.
Alzheimer Europe has worked with NHS England to develop a version specifically for health and care staff in England. It can be acessed here:
The guide has also been translated into several languages. You can download the .pdf by clicking below.
Bulgarian: Интеркултурна грижа при деменция - Наръчник за повишаване на осведомеността сред здравни и социални болногледачи
French: Soins interculturels en matière de démence - Guide de sensibilisation destiné aux professionnels de la santé et aux travailleurs sociaux
German: Interkulturelle Demenzpflege - Ein Leitfaden zur Sensibilisierung von Gesundheits- und Sozialpflegern
Italian: Cure interculturali per la demenza - Una guida per aumentare la consapevolezza fra gli operatori del settore socio-sanitario