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Culturally Competent Dementia Care: Supporting Diverse Communities
Pacific Island Perspective
The prevalence of dementia in Aotearoa New Zealand’s rapidly ageing Pacific population is projected to almost triple in the next two decades, and the country is not prepared. Throughout the entire dementia journey—from awareness and conceptualisation of cognitive change and the need for assessment through to diagnosis and the provision of post-diagnostic supports—the system is failing Pacific peoples. Indeed, current dementia services and supports have been designed for the European majority and do not reflect Pacific worldviews and realities. It is not surprising, then, that Pacific peoples do not view existing dementia services as fit for purpose, with subsequent lower rates of uptake of available services. This means the inequities faced by Pacific peoples with dementia and their families throughout their dementia journey will be further magnified as dementia prevalence in Pacific peoples increases faster than the national average. While adapting existing services may go some way toward reducing inequities for Pacific peoples, this does not change the Eurocentric assumptions underpinning current models of care. A complete redesign of dementia services is required to appropriately meet the needs of Pacific peoples with dementia, their families, and the wider Pacific community.