Multicultural approach

The number of people from minority ethnic groups who are living with dementia is rising steeply, yet awareness levels and diagnosis rates are worryingly low. An Alzheimer's Society project , The Information Programme for South Asian Families (IPSAF), which provides culturally tailored information information sessions aims to help solve this problem. The service comprises a series of face-to-face sessions which helps carers to build their understanding, knowledge and skills of dementia. An educational DVD is also provided for carers to take home and share with family members.

Based on Spaniol and Jung's stress and coping framework (1993), this study examined the difficulties and stresses experienced by carers with relatives suffering from schizophrenia in Hong Kong. The impact of these difficulties and stresses and of mastery as a coping resource on carers' mental health was also explored. Results show that carers experience most difficulties and stresses related to the management of negative symptoms such as refusal to perform household duties and neglect of personal hygiene, and less to handling positive symptoms such as bizarre behaviours and thoughts.

Family support groups (FSG) are an important source of intervention for caregivers of an older, frailer, or ill family member. Whether and how FSG works within ethnic minority groups is not well understood, however. Drawing on data from a sub-set of a larger qualitative study focused on exploring the impact of participating in a family support group, this study examined how culture influenced the FSG experience of Chinese family caregivers. In-depth, personal interviews were conducted with six Chinese family caregivers about their experiences participating in a family support group.