Learning Tool "Dementia and influence of culture". Made in the framework of the IENE7 project funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. Please, visit www.iene7.eu.

1. MODULE II: CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE
Topic 4: Dementia and
influence of culture

2. Summary
 In this module, you will learn about different aspects of dementia and influence of
culture on patient’s, family’s and care worker’s experience.
 At the end of this module, you will have knowledge and understanding of people with
dementia needs , their family needs and respect of human rights in relation to
culture and compassion.
Module II: CULTURAL
KNOWLEDGE
Dementia and influence
of culture
Summary
Summary
What is dementia ?
Caring for a person with
dementia
Communication and dementia
Dementia and relationships
Cultural aspects of dementia
Conclusions
Authorship

3. What is dementia?
One in 14 people over 65 and 1 in 6 people over 80 develop
dementia.
 Dementia is a syndrome (a group of related symptoms) associated
with an ongoing decline of brain functioning.
People with dementia may lose the ability to remember events or fully
understand their environment or situations , can become apathetic or
uninterested in their usual activities, or may have problems controlling
their emotions, lose interest in socialising, may lose empathy
(understanding and compassion), may see or hear things that other
people do not (hallucinations), becoming more withdrawn or anxious.
 Alzheimer's disease is a type of dementia .
Common symptoms of Alzheimer's disease include,
memory problems , regularly forgetting recent events, names and
faces, asking questions repetitively, difficulty finding the right words,
difficulty with numbers, difficulties in organisation and planning tasks
and activities, confusion in unfamiliar environments
What is ageing?
Module II: CULTURAL
KNOWLEDGE
Dementia and influence
of culture
Summary
What is dementia ?
Caring for a person with
dementia
Communication and dementia
Dementia and relationships
Cultural aspects of dementia
Conclusions
Authorship

4. What is ageing?
If you want to better understand dementia is , watch the two
minute animation animated “Dementia”
.
Module II: CULTURAL
KNOWLEDGE
Dementia and influence
of culture
Summary
What is dementia ?
Caring for a person with
dementia
Communication and dementia
Dementia and relationships
Cultural aspects of dementia
Conclusions
Authorship

5. Caring for a person with dementia
A person with dementia usually need help in maintaining
independence, movement, carrying out daily activities.
Caring for a person with dementia include:
 Helping with everyday tasks
 Keeping up hobbies and interests
 Maintaining good health and nutrition
 Dealing with incontinence
 Helping with their personal hygiene
 Helping sleep well
Social aspects of ageing
 If you want to know more tips and advices, visit the
website https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-
support/help-dementia-care/caring-for-person-
dementia .
Know your
limits
Prioritize
Confront
your
feeling
Involve
family and
other carers
Ask for
help
Think
positively
Caring for a person living with dementia can be very challenging and
sometimes affects caring people, exhausting physically and mentally
due the behavior problems like anger, confusion, fear, paranoia and
sadness that people with the disease are experiencing , sometimes
becoming aggressive and violent.
Some tips taking care of your own wellbeing.
Module II: CULTURAL
KNOWLEDGE
Dementia and influence
of culture
Summary
What is dementia ?
Caring for a person with
dementia
Communication and dementia
Dementia and relationships
Cultural aspects of dementia
Conclusions
Authorship

6. How to communicate with someone with dementia?
 Dementia gradually affect the way a person communicates, the
ability to present rational ideas and to reason clearly: difficulty finding
the right words, using familiar words repeatedly, describing familiar
objects rather than calling them by name, easily losing a train of
thought, difficulty organizing words logically, speaking less often,
relying on gestures more than speaking.
 Some tips to encourage the person with dementia you're looking after
to communicate:
 speak clearly and slowly, using short sentences
 give them time to respond
 give them simple choices
 try not to patronize them or ridicule what they say
 let them speak for themselves
 make eye contact when communicate
 use body language and physical contact
 keep your tone of voice positive and friendly
 be patient and remain calm when has difficulty speaking
or understanding,
 try not to interrupt them
 repeat what you heard back and ask them to repeat
 encourage them to join in conversations with others
Physical aspects of
ageing
 If you want to learn more about communication tips ,
read the brochure “Communication and
Alzheimer's”
Module II: CULTURAL
KNOWLEDGE
Dementia and influence
of culture
Summary
What is dementia ?
Caring for a person with
dementia
Communication and dementia
Dementia and relationships
Cultural aspects of dementia
Conclusions
Authorship

7. Dementia and relationships
Dementia can affect all aspects of a person's life, including relationships
with family and friends:
 Family and carers often experience high levels of stress while caring a
person with dementia.
 Key points to build a good relationship and improve outcomes:
 active listening, empathy to build trust and rapport
 tailor communication skills to empower people communication
 understand behaviour and dealing sensitively with behavioural problems
 provide the right environment to make patient feel more comfortable and
secure
 be aware of how their own beliefs and respect the values and beliefs
(cultural, religious) of patients
 deliver appropriate compassionate care
Psychological aspects of
ageing
 Please, watch the video Persons with Dementia:
Skills for Addressing Challenging Behaviors
 Note: The video can be automatically translated : Click
Setting/Subtitles/Auto-translate and choose English (auto-
generated) or Auto-translate (then choose the language from
the list)
Mood
disorders (e.g.,
depression,
apathy,
euphoria);
Sleep
disorders
(insomnia,
hypersomnia,
night-day
reversal);
Psychotic
symptoms
(delusions and
hallucinations);
Agitation (e.g.,
pacing,
wandering,
sexual
disinhibition,
aggression
Module II: CULTURAL
KNOWLEDGE
Dementia and influence
of culture
Summary
What is dementia ?
Caring for a person with
dementia
Communication and dementia
Dementia and relationships
Cultural aspects of dementia
Conclusions
Authorship

8. Module II: CULTURAL
KNOWLEDGE
Topic 2: Cultural
aspects f ageing
Task to do
Cultural aspects of dementia
 Dementia is the main cause of dependency in older people and in many
country there is lack of staff to care for people with dementia.
 This gap is covered by foreigner and migrants, people with other
cultures than patients: age, education level, income level, place of birth,
length of residency in a country, individual experience, and identification
with community groups.
 To provide effective care, the caregivers must to have cultural
competence , the capacity to function effectively within the context of the
cultural beliefs, behaviors, and needs of patients and their communities.
Steps for improving Cultural Competence:
Understand
dementia.
• Dementia may be perceived differently in different cultures: as a
normal part of ageing, mental illness, something metaphysical linked
to supernatural or spiritual beliefs or as an irreversible disease of the
brain.
Overcome
the stigma of
dementia
• People with dementia are often isolated,or hidden, because of stigma
or the possibility of negative reactions from neighbours and relatives.
Know the
host culture
and
community.
• Learn the demographic, socioeconomic, and health status
characteristics in the country and communities where serve or want
to work.
Improve
cultural and
linguistic
skills
• Enhance your capacity to provide culturally and linguistically
appropriate services.
Module II: CULTURAL
KNOWLEDGE
Dementia and influence
of culture
Summary
What is dementia ?
Caring for a person with
dementia
Communication and dementia
Dementia and relationships
Cultural aspects of dementia
Conclusions
Authorship

9. Module II: CULTURAL
KNOWLEDGE
Topic 2: Cultural
aspectsof ageing
Conclusions
Skills that may be used by caregivers to address challenging
behaviors of people with dementia.
Watch the videos produced by UCLA Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program ,
available at https://www.uclahealth.org/dementia/caregiver-education-videos .
Choose one video from the list you find most interesting for you.
Aggressive Language/Behaviors
Agitation and Anxiety
Depression/Apathy
Hallucinations
Home Safety
Refusal to Bathe
Refusal to Take Medications
Repetitive Behaviors
Repetitive Phone Calls
Repetitive Questions
Sexually Inappropriate Behaviors
Sleep Disturbances
Sundowning
Wandering
Note: The videos can be automatically translated : Click Setting/Subtitles/Auto-translate and choose
English (auto-generated) or Auto-translate (then choose the language from the list)
 Comment with your peers interested in this tool about how minimize the
occurrence of the behavior presented ( What happened? Why did it happen? What
were the triggers to the behavior? What can the caregiver do to achieve a better
outcome?.)
You may also download the Take Action worksheet (pdf | doc) and use when watch the videos
to record steps taken and your ideas.
 Share personal experience and ideas about what can do to remove triggers.
Module II: CULTURAL
KNOWLEDGE
Dementia and influence
of culture
Summary
What is dementia ?
Caring for a person with
dementia
Communication and dementia
Dementia and relationships
Cultural aspects of dementia
Conclusions
Authorship

10. Authorship
Authors:
Victor Dudau
EDUNET Organisations
Craiova, Romania
Created in the framework of IENE 7 project “Improving communication, intercultural and social
skills for migrants who work as caregivers of elderly people in Europe.”
Please, visit our website ww.iene7.eu or see more
presentations on the IENE7 Youtube channel.
You may also study the Learning resources about
dementia .
Module II: CULTURAL
KNOWLEDGE
Dementia and influence
of culture
Summary
What is dementia ?
Caring for a person with
dementia
Communication and dementia
Dementia and relationships
Cultural aspects of dementia
Conclusions
Authorship