“This is a fabulously informative collection of essays and evidence about the difficulties and issues for people living with dementia it is essential reading for those who commission services and those who provide them.
The communities and cultures that are covered include Irish and Traveller, African-Carribean, South Asian, Chinese, and Jewish.
This is evidence based description of the needs of those affected by dementia who are from BAME communities. The sections contain illuminating first hand narratives of experiences, both of families and the people with dementia.
It is clear that there is a huge lack of understanding of how cultural influences affect the way and extent that BAME people access services, such as they are. And it is also clear that the needs and received cultural traditions vary widely from one community to another.
The word communities in the title may be misleading to those coming to these issues for the first time. Some communities such as Chinese are very widespread, with just a few well known urban concentrations. Others are quite closed, and make it difficult for learning and openness about dementia difficult to spread.
The authors make the point that as with other types of prejudice, we have received stereotypes relating to BAME communities. We should not assume that ‘close’ communities ‘look after their own’, just because they keep to themselves and rarely services.
Furthermore, care providers should not make assumptions that they apply to all members of any community. As we often say, when you have met one person with dementia, you have met one person. Everyone is different.
Health and care staff need to develop a relationship of trust with people they support, and understand families’ and individuals’ habitual and cultural approaches to dementia and other than illness. This takes time, and listening, but there is much distrust of health and care services as a result of poor experiences in the past.
One of the highlights was the chapter by Padraic Garrett on the Jewish Community. At least in some large parts of the country, the Jewish Community has developed really excellent support systems and organisations which very much echo the aspirations of people with dementia whom I work with.
Equally, Toby Williamson’s chapter on Rights is a very succinct clarification of some complex issues and misunderstandings.
I believe we owe David Truswell a debt of gratitude for raising awareness of all the issues covered in the book. It is illuminating, and a must read, if we are to address the implicit, indirect prejudice and discrimination so widespread in our society. I look forward to a similar book on the LGBT community and dementia.”
February 2020
