PREVALENCE OF DEMENTIA AMONG CHINESE AMERICANS
The true prevalence of dementia is unknown since there are currently no large scale prospective population-based studies examining the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders among Chinese Americans. Huang et al. 2002 published the first systematic report of the socio-demographic characteristics of newly admitted older Chinese to an urban nursing home in the United States. Using the Minimum Data Set database, the author selected 250 residents (125 Chinese, 57 white, 53 Hispanic, and 23 black) over age 60. Among the Chinese Americans the majority were first-generation immigrants and spoke primarily Cantonese or Mandarin Chinese. Compared with whites, they were more likely to be married, less likely to have lived alone, more likely to be using Medicaid, less likely to make medical decision alone, and more likely to depend on family members for decision-making. Nearly 75% of this group demonstrated significant cognitive impairment.
CHINESE AMERICAN CULTURAL BELIEFS ABOUT DEMENTIA
1. Dementia is a form of normal aging. Many families interpret the memory difficulties and behavioral problems associated with dementia as the result of normal aging. One study suggested that due to this belief, some Chinese families do not think that symptoms of dementia represent an illness that requires medical assessment or treatment.(Elliott, Di Minno, Lam et al. 1996
2. Dementia is a form of mental illness. Some Asians families perceive symptoms of dementia( paranoia, hallucinations, delusions etc.) to be synonymous with other types of mental illness such as schizophrenia. The Chinese word for dementia is represented by two characters one which means crazy and the other means catatonic. The stigma, shame and negative responses experienced by families and patients interfere with their willing to seek appropriate medical assessment and treatment in the early stages of the illness. Continue reading