• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Geriatrics

Geriatrics

Ethnogeriatrics

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • Culture Med
    • Ethnogeriatrics Overview
      • Introduction
      • Patterns of Health Risk
      • Fund of Knowledge
      • Assessment
      • Delivery of Care
    • Glossary
    • Interview Strategies
  • Ethno Med
    • Background
    • African American
    • Alaska Native
    • American Indian
    • Asian Indian American
    • Chinese American
    • Filipino American
    • Hawaiian and Pacific Islander
    • Hispanic / Latino American
    • Hmong American
    • Japanese American
    • Korean American
    • Pakistani American
    • Vietnamese American
  • Medical Interpreters
    • Microlectures
    • Partnering with medical interpreter
  • Training
  • Media Coverage
  • About Us
    • Overview
    • SAGE Certificate Program
    • iSAGE Team
    • Contact iSAGE
    • Aging Adult Services at Stanford
    • System Requirements

Dementia and Caregiving

Learning Acitivity

 Dementia in an Oklahoma Choctaw Woman

American Indians appear to have a lower frequency of dementia than other populations and are less likely to be institutionalized than older Whites or Blacks despite higher rates of chronic illness (Chapleski, et al, 1997). Orientation to the present time, taking life as it comes, and a general acceptance of physical and cognitive decline as a part of aging are believed to be contributing factors in caring for a cognitively impaired elder in the community (Ogrocki, et al, 1997). It has been suggested that American Indian caregivers differ from White caregivers in the use of “passive forbearance” as a coping strategy, which was not found with White caregivers. Also, American Indian caregivers did not expect to control or to be able to gain control of the situation of caregiving for a cognitively impaired elder, whereas the White caregiver did expect control, leading to anger and frustration (Strong, 1984).

Memory Loss

It is unlikely that “memory loss” would be the presenting complaint of a cognitively impaired American Indian elder. The most common problems in one study were understanding instructions and recognizing people they know. Approximately 1/3 exhibited restless and agitated behavior all the time, and the two least common demented behaviors were wandering/getting lost or exhibiting dangerous behaviors to self or others (John, Henessey, Roy, & Salvini, 1996).

Concept of Caregiver Burden

The concept of caregiver burden is unacceptable in many American Indian cultures, and behavior by a person with dementia that may be considered inappropriate in Euro-American culture is accepted in the American Indian elder’s community without social stigma (Henessey & John, 1996). American Indian caregivers from the southwestern Pueblos reported that they “often felt inadequate dealing with behavioral difficulties” such as stubbornness, resistance to caregiving regimens and repetitive requests. However, cultural respect for elders with or without dementia does not allow for the direct expression of anger toward the elder or for infantilization witnessed in Anglo settings (John, et al., 1996).

Cognitive Impairment

The cultural incongruence of caring for an elder with cognitive impairment and the cultural values of non-interference, individual freedom, non-directive communication and respect for elders may increase stress felt by the caregiver significantly. Culturally appropriate support systems would be important resources for providers to offer as resources to American Indian caregivers.

    Pages:
  • <
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • >

Primary Sidebar

Culturemed Image

American Indian

  • Description
  • Learning Objectives
  • Introduction and Overview
    • Demographics
      • Overview
      • Geography
      • Living Arrangements
      • Tribal Groupings
      • Age Groups
    • Historical Influence
    • Self-Determination
    • Religion
    • Spirituality and Healing
    • Definition of Terms
  • Patterns of Health Risk
    • Data Quality
      • Mortality
        • Leading Causes of Death
      • Morbidity and Functional Status
        • Heart Disease and Diabetes
      • Mental Health

Culturally Appropriate Care

  • Fund of Knowledge
    • Cohort Analysis
      • Cohort Experiences
      • Case Studies for Discussion
    • Impact of Historical Events
    • Conflicting Expectations
  • Assessment
    • Respect and Rapport
    • Communication
    • Language Assesment
    • Assesment Domains
      • Client Background
      • Clinical Domains
      • Problem-Specific Information
      • Intervention-Specific Data
      • Outcome Criteria
  • Delivery of Care
    • Health Promotion Strategies
    • Treatment and Response
    • informed Consent
    • Surgery
    • Advance Directives
    • Medications
    • Chronic Pain Management
    • Dementia and Caregiving
    • End-of-life Care
    • Biomedical Vs Traditional

Access & Utilization

  • Needs Vs. Utilization
  • Managed Care

Learning Resources

  • Learning Activities
    • 1: Historical Events
      • B.C. to 1799
      • 1800 to 1849
      • 1850 to 1899
      • 1900 to 1949
      • 1953 to 1969: Policy of Termination and Relocation
      • 1970s
        • Short Answer/Essay Questions
      • 1980s to Present
    • 2: Cultural Values
    • 3: Case Study, Dementia
      • Discussion Questions
  • Instructional Strategies
  • Student Evaluation
    • Essay Question
    • Post Test
      • Multiple Choice
  • List of References
  • Searchable Reference Database
  • Suggested Readings
  • Multimedia and Community Resources
    • Web
    • Publications
    • Video
  • Glossary
  • Interview Strategies
© 2019 Stanford Medicine
Privacy Policy • Terms of Use