In Italy, the number of elderly migrants with dementia in need of assistance is expected to rise. But many health providers are ill-prepared to help people whose first language isn't Italian, a new study shows.
Due to progressive ageing of the population, the percentage of elderly migrants and refugees is increasing rapidly in Italy -- and experts are expecting that more migrants with chronic disorders linked to age will soon need assistance.
However, centers in Italy that support people with dementia and similar illnesses are ill-prepared to help ageing non-Italians, according to research conducted as part of the ImmiDem project funded by the Italian health ministry and coordinated by the higher institute of health. The findings were presented at a virtual event on Thursday (February 24).
'Poorly prepared to deal with linguistic and cultural differences'
About 4,500 migrants and refugees with dementia reportedly sought assistance in 2019 from the 343 Centers for Cognitive Disturbances and Dementia in Italy. Over a third of the centers experienced an increase in the number of migrants over five years.
Unfurtunately, the services are "poorly prepared to deal with linguistic and cultural differences," researchers found.
"The research activities conducted as part of ImmiDem," said project director Marco Canevelli from Italy's National Center for Disease Prevention and the Promotion of Health, "made it possible to document how a significant number of migrants with cognitive disorders are already seeking assistance from the centers for cognitive disorders in Italy."
Migrants, refugees need better support
However, services for dementia seem "poorly prepared to implement treatment and assistance models sensitive to [cultural] differences."
Only a minority of centers have informational material available on dementia translated into other languages, cross-cultural cognitive tests, or the possibility to use an interpreter or cultural mediator services.
"The ImmiDem project," Canevelli said, "has identified barriers and gaps that should be addressed by healthcare policies aiming to eliminate inequalities in treatment, ensure the highest levels of assistance, and promote the wellbeing of all people with dementia living in Italy, regardless of their country of birth."