The Cultural Influence of Values, Norms, Meanings, and Perceptions in Understanding Dementia in Ethnic Minorities

Issues of ethnicity and culture, as they relate to Alzheimer disease and related disorders, continue to be under-studied. This article highlights the limited findings regarding ways in which culture can influence caregiving to older persons suffering from dementia across different ethnic groups in the United States. Particular attention is given to how cultural values, norms, and beliefs shape the meanings different ethnic groups assign to dementia. Findings show that family caregiving processes and help seeking are influenced by the meanings family members assign. However, more research is needed in this area. Also, researchers and practitioners could benefit Alzheimer sufferers and their caregivers by incorporating cultural and social information about diverse groups into their future models of research and practice.