Ethnic Cultural Beliefs Impact Heath Care
Beliefs about illness and disease differ between different ethnic and cultural groups. It is very important that health care professionals are aware of these beliefs so that they can provide the best and most effective advice, support and treatment packages.
The Chinese-American community traditionally offer family care and support to those that are ill or infirm. The elders are cared for by the oldest son and his wife (or other siblings if the oldest son is not able). Married daughters become responsible to the family members of their husband's family. Ties within the Chinese community are usually very strong.
Dementia a form of normal aging?
Alzheimer's and dementias are seen as a normal part of the aging process. This may be one reason why some Chinese-Americans do not always seek treatment for
Alzheimer's disease.
Dementia believed a source of shame
Shame that a family member has Alzheimer's has a number of implications. To avoid loss of face the person with Alzheimer's may be kept away from public gaze.
Family information and/or information about the person with dementia may not be shared with others outside the family, social workers, health care
professionals. Signs and symptoms of the disease may be minimized.
Dementia believed a form of mental illness
Symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations and paranoia are seem as signs of mental illness. The Chinese word for dementia is represented by two characters
one means crazy the other catatonic. It may be that the shame felt by some in the Chinese-American community, contributes to the avoidance of use of outside
agencies to help someone with Alzheimer's and their families.
Dementia believed a result of fate
This fatalisic belief to Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia is seen as beyond their control and somehow inevitable.
Dementia believed an imbalance between complementary forms of energy, "yin" and "yang"
Dementia; retribution for the sins of the family or of one's ancestors.
