RURAL DEMENTIA
Research in Rural Dementia is focused on exploring the context of dementia in rural northern Ontario, with a particular emphasis on understanding the experiential aspects of the dementia journey in a rural northern context. Current projects include:
· Understanding Dementia in Rural Northern Communities, E. Wiersma, Principal Investigator [funded by the Alzheimer Society of Canada Research Grants Program]
Rural and northern areas experience particularly unique circumstances and challenges in providing support for seniors. Most notably, rural and northern areas often have a higher population of seniors than urban areas. In addition, rural communities experience other unique circumstances: outmigration of younger people to large urban centres, the lower health status of rural, remote and northern residents in comparison to their urban counterparts, and the lack of accessible health resources.
For people living with dementia, their caregivers, and formal and informal care providers, these issues may be exacerbated. Learning more about living with dementia in rural communities in northwestern Ontario and what challenges exist for various groups, including people with dementia themselves, caregivers, formal care providers, and care partners, is important. The purpose of this research, was to understand the needs and experiences of people diagnosed with dementia, their informal caregivers, and formal care providers living in rural areas of northwestern Ontario, identifying factors that both limit and facilitate supporting and caring for people with dementia in rural areas of northwestern Ontario.
Using a qualitative approach, this research focussed on two areas in northwestern Ontario that are representative of northern towns. We recruited different groups of participants: care partners caring for someone living wih dementia, people living with dementia, service providers, and other providers including business owners, clergy, volunteers, and neighbours. Interviews were conducted to understand their perspectives and insights into living with dementia in rural northern communities and the informal care that may be provided to both people with dementia and their caregivers.
Research in Rural Dementia is focused on exploring the context of dementia in rural northern Ontario, with a particular emphasis on understanding the experiential aspects of the dementia journey in a rural northern context. Current projects include:
· Understanding Dementia in Rural Northern Communities, E. Wiersma, Principal Investigator [funded by the Alzheimer Society of Canada Research Grants Program]
Rural and northern areas experience particularly unique circumstances and challenges in providing support for seniors. Most notably, rural and northern areas often have a higher population of seniors than urban areas. In addition, rural communities experience other unique circumstances: outmigration of younger people to large urban centres, the lower health status of rural, remote and northern residents in comparison to their urban counterparts, and the lack of accessible health resources.
For people living with dementia, their caregivers, and formal and informal care providers, these issues may be exacerbated. Learning more about living with dementia in rural communities in northwestern Ontario and what challenges exist for various groups, including people with dementia themselves, caregivers, formal care providers, and care partners, is important. The purpose of this research, was to understand the needs and experiences of people diagnosed with dementia, their informal caregivers, and formal care providers living in rural areas of northwestern Ontario, identifying factors that both limit and facilitate supporting and caring for people with dementia in rural areas of northwestern Ontario.
Using a qualitative approach, this research focussed on two areas in northwestern Ontario that are representative of northern towns. We recruited different groups of participants: care partners caring for someone living wih dementia, people living with dementia, service providers, and other providers including business owners, clergy, volunteers, and neighbours. Interviews were conducted to understand their perspectives and insights into living with dementia in rural northern communities and the informal care that may be provided to both people with dementia and their caregivers.