Views of First Nation Elders on Memory Loss and Memory Care in Later Life

• Published in: Journal of cross-cultural gerontology Vol. 25; no. 4; pp. 317 - 342
• Main Authors: Hulko, Wendy, Camille, Evelyn, Antifeau, Elisabeth, Arnouse, Mike, Bachynski, Nicole, Taylor, Denise
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01.12.2010; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Aging - physiology; Aging - psychology; Anthropology; British Columbia; Canada; Care of the aged; Community; Community-Based Participatory Research; Cultural Characteristics; Culture; Decolonization; Delivery of Health Care; Dementia; Dementia - ethnology; Dementia - therapy; Elderly; Female; Geriatrics/Gerontology; Health care; Health Care Services; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Indians, North American - psychology; Indigenous Populations; Intergenerational Relations; Interviews as Topic; Male; Marital Status; Memory; Memory Disorders - ethnology; Memory Disorders - therapy; Middle Aged; Native culture; Native North Americans; Older people; Original Article; Philosophy of Medicine; Senility; Social Sciences; Theory of Medicine/Bioethics; Canada; British Columbia Canada; Participatory community-based research; Indigenous; Decolonization; Memory loss; Secwepemc; Dementia; First Nation Elders
• ISSN: 0169-3816; 1573-0719
• DOI: 10.1007/s10823-010-9123-9

Little is known about Indigenous communities and dementia and Elders have not been involved as advisors or participants in most research to date. This exploratory research sought to address this gap through a constructivist grounded theory project on the views of First Nation Elders on memory loss and memory care in later life, conducted in collaboration with decision-makers from the local Health Authority and Elders from three First Nation communities in British Columbia, Canada. Elders served as advisors to this research and research agreements were negotiated and signed with each community. Data collection occurred through a series of sharing circles and interviews with a total of 21 Elders, four of whom were experiencing memory loss, and two community members. Four themes arose through the constant comparative data analysis process: Being Secwepemc, growing older, losing memory , and supporting one another . These themes indicate that memory loss and memory care in First Nation communities has changed over the past century, including the causes attributed to memory loss in later life and community responses to those affected. Elders hold differing views about memory loss, including the traditional—‘going through the full circle’ [of life]—and the shémá [white] way—‘ your dementia’, with the latter being much more common. This research indicates the importance of protecting and reviving traditional knowledge and ways of life in order to prevent ‘ your dementia’ and avoid the adoption of health care practices that may be culturally unsafe for First Nation Elders.