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From Beginning to End: Perspectives of the Dementia Journey in Northern Ontario*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2015

Deanna Di Gregorio ,
Shannon Ferguson  and
Elaine Wiersma
Deanna Di Gregorio
Affiliation:
Department of Business Administration, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario
Shannon Ferguson
Affiliation:
Department of Health Sciences, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario
Elaine Wiersma*
Affiliation:
Department of Health Sciences, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario
*
†La correspondance et les demandes de tirés-à-part doivent être adressées à : / Correspondence and requests for offprints should be sent to: Elaine Wiersma, Ph.D. Department of Health Sciences Lakehead University 955 Oliver Road Thunder Bay (ON) P7B 5E1 (ewiersma@lakeheadu.ca)
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Abstract

Research on dementia care continues to develop, yet little attention has been given to the dementia experience in rural, northern communities. This study explored the dementia journey through the viewpoints of health service providers, caregivers, community members, and people living with dementia. The findings highlight the complexity of dementia awareness and understanding. Sound awareness and knowledge of dementia itself, the community services available, as well as of the perspectives of individuals living with dementia and care partners specifically in rural, northern Ontario are fundamental to quality care and support of individuals with dementia. Practical service implications and the need for greater developments with respect to the awareness and understanding of dementia in rural, northern communities are discussed.

Résumé

La recherche sur les soins de la démence continue à se développer, mais peu d'attention est accordée à l'expérience de la démence dans les lieux ruraux et nordiques. Cette étude explore la démence à travers les points de vue des services de santé, les soignants, les membres de la communauté, et les personnes atteintes de démence. Les résultats mettent en évidence la complexité de la prise de conscience et la compréhension de ce phénomène dans des lieux ruraux. La perspective des gens vivants avec une démence, la compréhension des services disponibles et une prise de conscience communautaire, sont essentiels à la prise en charge rural. La nécessité d'accroître les connaissances et l’emphase sur le développement des services de santé et bien-être en milieux ruraux sont discutée.

Keywords

vieillissmentagingawarenessdementia journeyOntariorural and northern
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 34 , Issue 1 , March 2015 , pp. 100 - 112
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2015 

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Footnotes

*

This research was supported by a grant received from the Alzheimer Society of Canada Research Program.

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