The experiences of Black Canadians living with dementia in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area and their care partners in providing care
2022 Catalyst Grant
This project brings together an interdisciplinary team of researchers in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada. The Alzheimer Society has agreed to support the study by providing expertise and guidance on the study; access to persons living with dementia where relevant; potential collaboration on knowledge translation activities; and dissemination of findings.
The study has five objectives:
1) to examine the beliefs, perceptions, and attitudes that diverse Black Canadians living with moderate dementia in the GTHA hold about the illness, including how the determinants of mobility impact these beliefs, perceptions, and attitudes;
2) to learn about the experiences that diverse Black Canadians have living with dementia, including how the illness has impacted determinants to mobility, especially within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic;
3) to gain an understanding of the supports they use and the community activities they engage in to maintain and enhance their health and well-being (e.g. health and social services, sleep, hearing and vision, physical activity, nutrition and diet, and social interactions), including how the determinants to mobility shape their experiences accessing supports and activities, and how COVID-19 has impacted this;
4) to examine the experiences of their care partners in providing care, including any barriers they face in providing care to address determinants to mobility, and how COVID-19 has impacted this; and
5) to use the data from objectives 1-4 to create a knowledge translation product or resource that will help inform future interventions that will restore, maintain, and promote mobility among Black Canadians living with dementia by addressing any structural barriers and gaps they face that prevent them from accessing and participating in the health care system and various spaces, opportunities, and activities due to the determinants to mobility and the pandemic.
