Dementia and Caregiving in South Asian Communities in the UK

This chapter explores experiences of caring for a family member with dementia for those from South Asian communities living in the United Kingdom (UK). The barriers and challenges faced by South Asian carers of a family member with dementia have resulted in a low service uptake, with families often presenting themselves to services at crisis point. Existing research in this area has highlighted that experiences of South Asians are influenced by: cultural norms associated with roles and positions in South Asian families; dementia being understood as a mental illness and its associated stigma and prior experiences of health and social care services. Based on existing research this chapter explores each of these areas in-depth, making recommendations for dementia policy and practice initiatives and highlighting areas worthy of further investigation.