Ethnoculturally-sensitive practice and Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) does not respect the boundaries of ethnicity or culture. Diverse ethnocultural groups adapt to the stresses of AD in their own unique fashion. As the attitudes, values, help-seeking and coping behaviors vary from one individual to another, so also does variation exist among the diverse ethnocultural groups. This paper will review current literature regarding several ethnocultural groups, as well as common attitudes, values, helpseeking and coping behaviors. Skills, values, and knowledge for the ethnoculturally-sensitive practitioner are discussed. Finally, case examples are cited.