Perceptions of Dementia in the Macedonian Community

1
Perceptions of Dementia in the Macedonian
Community
2
Agenda

• Dementia and the Macedonian Culture
• Macedonian beliefs
• Macedonian lifestyle and Dementia
• Understanding of Dementia in the Macedonian
  Community
• Evidence of attitude towards Dementia

3
Dementia and the Macedonian Culture

• The role and status of the elders in the family
• Living arrangements
• Provision of carer support

4
Macedonian Beliefs

• Christian-Orthodox religion
• Approach to health
• if it is written it is written you cannot
  escape from whatever is written

5
Macedonian Lifestyle and Dementia

• Liberal consumption of alcohol and fatty diet
• Age groups affected by Dementia
• - Evidence of both older and younger members of
  the community being affected by Dementia
• Lack of awareness of the relationship between
  Dementia and lifestyle and diet by the younger
  members of the community

6
Understanding of Dementia in the Macedonia
Community

• Highly stigmatised and misunderstood illness
• No word in Macedonian language to describe
  Dementia
• In the Macedonian language Dementia is described
  as sclerosis or old people illness.
• Family members tend to ignore or minimise the
  problem
• People often try to deal with problem in their
  own way, without seeking assistance from health
  professionals.
• People generally prefere treatments to be given
  in the form of injections, rather than ongoing
  counselling or psychological intervention.
• Professional help is usually sought at very late
  stages of Dementia
• People tend to seek help through a hospital
  rather than from GP or mental health services,
• Reasons to hide the presence of Dementia by older
  people.

7
Attitudes Towards Dementia

• Quotations from community members directly
  affected by Dementia
• Female carer about 60 yrs When you have
  Dementia, or other kinds of mental illnesses,
  Macedonian lose all respect for you. They dont
  accept you anymore, they dont even give you a
  chance. It is their mentality. When one finds out
  the word starts spreading and then the whole
  family suffers from shame, especially the
  children. Macedonian people can be very cruel.
• Female carer 65 yrs They should only share this
  information with family members and friends who
  are strong and smart enough to understand. Not
  everyone should know People in the family or
  friends they can trust and people who can take
  this calmly People who will not be very
  disturbed with the news. Dont tell people who
  are weak and can not handle the truth or people
  who will ridicule them later on.
• Female community member 55 yrs People or
  friends would start avoiding them. Many people
  are afraid to associate with people with
  Dementia. They would not know how to communicate
  with people like them.
• Male community member 65 yrs Yes they would
  avoid the person and gossip especially if he/she
  is Macedonian- everyone will find out.