Hidden dementia in ethnic minorities

Social and health care services should be made more sensitive to
the needs of ethnic minority dementia sufferers and their carers, a
report by the Leeds BME Dementia Project recommends.

Highlighting the difficulties in diagnosing, treating and
supporting people with dementia in the city’s ethnic minority
communities, the report calls for a diversity of service provision
including services designed specifically to meet cultural
needs.

The report reveals that within ethnic minorities communities
dementia remains hidden through stigma, denial and lack of
knowledge. As a consequence people with dementia often go
undiagnosed and untreated leaving their families and friends to
fulfil their caring role without support.

Initial diagnosis is also often delayed through the failure of
health practitioners to recognise the condition because of language
difficulties and problems with communication arising from the
dementia itself.