Indigenous Peoples and Dementia: New Understandings of Memory Loss and Memory Care

Author: Wendy HulkoPublisher: UBC PressPaperback:ISBN 10: 0774837845ISBN 13: 978-0774837842Dementia is on the rise around the world, and health organizations the United States, Canada, and New Zealand are responding to the urgent need – voiced by communities and practitioners – for guidance on how best to address memory loss in Indigenous communities. This innovative volume responds to the call by bringing together, for the first time, studies and traditional stories that address three key areas of concern: prevalence, causes, and public discourse; Indigenous perspectives on care and prevention; and culturally safe application of research to Elder care. Collectively, the contributors demonstrate that care must be grounded in collaborative research informed by Indigenous knowledge and worldviews. Review Dementia is on the rise around the world, and health organizations in Canada, the United States, and New Zealand are responding to the urgent need – voiced by communities and practitioners – for guidance on how best to address memory loss in Indigenous communities. This innovative volume responds to the call by bringing together, for the first time, research studies and Indigenous teaching stories on this topic. Using decolonizing methods, it addresses key areas of concern with chapters that: examine the prevalence and causes of dementia, as well as the public discourse surrounding the issue provide examples for incorporating Indigenous perspectives on care and prevention into research and practice demonstrate culturally safe applications of research to Elder care. Presenting strategies for health practice and effective collaborative research informed by Indigenous knowledge and worldviews, this book is a valuable resource for researchers, practitioners, students, and educators who seek a better understanding of memory loss and memory care. Review This book represents the first significant contribution to what we know about how Indigenous peoples understand dementia and memory loss. (from the foreword by Rod McCormick (Kanienkehaka), professor and British Columbia Innovation Council research chair in Aboriginal Health, Faculty of Education and Social Work, Thompson Rivers University)A leap forward in understanding how health care can be provided in culturally safe ways. (Lloy Wylie, assistant professor, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University) See all Editorial Reviews