Intercultural communications in remote Aboriginal Australian communities: What works in dementia education and management?
Kerry Taylor
Center for Remote Health, Flinders University, Alice Springs NT
Melissa Lindeman
Centre for Remote Health, Flinders University, Alice Springs NT
Kylie Stothers
Centre for Remote Health, Flinders University; O'Keefe House, Katherine District Hospital, Katherine NT
Karen Piper
Flinders Prevention, Promotion and Primary Health Care, Flinders Aboriginal Health Research Unit, Flinders University, Alice Springs NT
Pim Kuipers
Centre for Functioning and Health Research, Queensland Health & Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Nathan QLD
PP: 208 - 219
Abstract
Dementia education and management is a major challenge nationally. However in the remote Aboriginal context, where the prevalence of dementia is five times greater than the national rate, the challenge is made more complex by cultural and linguistic differences between providers and consumers.
This paper presents findings from the evaluation of a targeted dementia awareness resource piloted in three Aboriginal languages as well as English. It focuses on the intercultural communication aspects of the evaluation adding to the limited body of knowledge about communications with speakers of Australian Aboriginal languages.
It identifies elements of effective intercultural communication in dementia education, implications for health literacy and considers the difference that culturally safe intercultural communication can make to a single issue such as dementia awareness.
Keywords
dementia awareness; dementia education; sociology; Aboriginal; Indigenous; intercultural communication; remote health
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