Vascular Dementia

Biography

Biography: Karan Jutlla

Abstract

Vascular dementia has been reported as the most common form of dementia in South Asian communities living in the UK due to higher incidences of hypertension and diabetes. Research on dementia care in these communities has highlighted the need for the need for cultural competency training for those working professionally with people with dementia and their families. It has been evidenced that while many health professionals feel that they need more training to both improve their knowledge about dementia and the cultural norms and religious practices of South Asian people with dementia, access to this sort of training is variable. Because of the acute lack of quantitative and qualitative data about the health and social care needs of South Asian communities, and how they are best met, training to improve cultural competency in services is difficult. This paper reports the findings of research with Sikh carers of a family member with vascular dementia living in Wolverhampton in the UK, highlighting evidence that demonstrates the diversity of the Sikh community and challenges assumptions of homogeneity. The evidence base presented highlights the importance for understanding the psycho-social perspectives of living with vascular dementia for migrant communities and the need for health care professionals and service managers to apply a person-centered approach to care. This paper will help participants to consider person centered care as a model for practice for achieving cultural competency with migrant communities living with dementia in their countries of work.