Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Cultural Adaptation Studies

Background:

• The DELIGHT (Dementia Lifestyle Intervention for Getting Healthy Together) program supports people with dementia and their care partners.
• A need exists to adapt existing dementia care programs for diverse ethno-cultural communities in Canada.

Purpose of the Study:

• To co-adapt the DELIGHT program for the Chinese community in Canada.
• To ensure cultural sensitivity and relevance of dementia care resources.

Main Methods:

• A Chinese Co-adaptation Team, including community members and researchers, was formed.
• The team utilized an authentic partnership approach through virtual and in-person meetings to tailor DELIGHT materials.

Main Results:

• 27 existing resources were co-adapted, and 6 new factsheets were created.
• New resources addressed dementia stigma and reframed mental well-being as emotional well-being.
• 15 brain-healthy Chinese recipes were developed, incorporating preferred food choices.

Conclusions:

• The co-adaptation process successfully enhanced the cultural relevance of the DELIGHT program for the Chinese community.
• Community-centered co-design is crucial for developing culturally sensitive dementia care resources.
• Lessons learned will inform future adaptations for other ethno-cultural groups.