‘The desire for a harmonious interaction’: A qualitative study of how healthcare professionals in community‐based dementia teams perceive their role in reaching and supporting family caregivers from minority ethnic backgrounds

Abstract

Aims and objectives: To explore how healthcare professionals in community-based dementia teams perceive their role in reaching and supporting family caregivers from minority ethnic backgrounds when caring for a family member suffering from dementia or cognitive impairment.Background: Despite increased focus on barriers to accessing the dementia healthcare service for family caregivers from minority ethnic backgrounds, the lack of knowledge on how to address these barriers in order to reach and support this group is evident. Design:The study has a qualitative, explorative design. The principles of consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) were applied for reporting methods and findings.Methods: Based on data from semi-structured interviews (n = 9) conducted in two large Norwegian municipalities, a thematic analysis influenced by Braun and Clarke was used. The analytical findings draw on Pierre Bourdieu's theoretical concepts of field, habitus and capital.Findings: 'The desire for a harmonious interaction' was identified as an overarching theme. However, while desirable, the analysis shows that healthcare professionals in community-based dementia teams do not always succeed in reaching and supporting family caregivers from minority ethnic backgrounds. The study reveals that the dementia healthcare service is a complex, normative and sometimes rigid system that requires a number of distinct attributes to navigate. Conclusions:The different social structures within the dementia healthcare service can both create and retain barriers that prevent family caregivers from minority ethnic backgrounds from receiving support on their own terms.

Framing dementia care in families with a migration background: an analysis of practitioners' and family carers' views and experiences

“…As our study suggests, not only does this prevent practitioners from adequately performing their profession, it also risks PwM being excluded from formal care. In accordance with previous studies on dementia care in families with a migration background (Berdai-Chaouni et al, 2020;Gulestø et al, 2022), our findings suggest that practitioners are often unaware of the complexities of care needs within these families. This could be why obstacles to successful care-sharing are framed through cultural explanations.…”

“…A language barrier and reaching out to formal care in a late stage of dementia are experienced as major obstacles to achieving proximity with PwMa finding that resonates with previous studies (e.g. Gulestø et al, 2022;Sagbakken et al, 2020). Even when communication with family carers was possible, practitioners often experienced a sense of distance.…”

Dementia care: Research and clinical innovation

“…Essential elements of dementia education and training that have been identified within this special issue include specific knowledge and skills to support nurses caring for people with dementia in an acute hospital environment to implement non‐pharmacological interventions and refrain from applying restrictive measures and medication (Keuning‐Plantinga et al, 2020). A further necessary element is that of inclusivity, which enables health and social care professionals to provide appropriate care for minority groups, such as sexual or ethnic minorities, alongside the inclusion of end of life care for a person with dementia, which may involve comfort feeding (Bartlett et al, 2020; Gulestø et al, 2020; Matarasso Greenfield et al, 2020).…”

“…The third element to emerge from papers within this special issue was the need for health and social care professionals to support family members of a person with dementia (Cresp et al, 2020; Gulestø et al, 2020; Kristiansen et al, 2020). This is due to the fact that over two thirds of people living with dementia live within the community in their own homes and are supported by friends and family members.…”

“…As previously mentioned, inclusivity continues to be an important element and the need to reach family members from minority ethnic groups, whose understanding of dementia and available services may be a barrier that prevents them from accessing and receiving appropriate support. However, Gulestø et al (2020) identified that healthcare professionals did not always succeed in reaching or supporting family members from minority ethnic groups because of systems within dementia care that were rigid and difficult to navigate. Therefore, nurses and other healthcare professionals should aim to understand the needs of family members from minority ethnic groups, so support and services can be provided on their terms, which address their needs.…”