Background: The Finns, who are the largest ethnic minority group in Sweden, immigrated as workers in the 1950`s, now belong to the aging population. With old age the risk of dementia increases as well as the need for mental health care services. The Swedish and the Finnish cultures are similar, but there are cultural differences and there is quite a strong awareness of this among the elderly Finns. Finnish immigrants suffering from dementia do not only suffer from memory loss and other cognitive impairments, but have cultural and communication barriers as well, when admitted to Swedish-speaking nursing homes. Some particular institutions have been set up for Finns in Sweden and this study wants to focus on such nursing homes with patients suffering from dementia.
Objective: The aims of the study were to elucidate the importance of the Finnish culture and the Finnish language in a Finnish-speaking nursing home in Sweden.
Design: In order to learn from the perspective of the subjects, a qualitative approach - ethnography - was used.
Materials and Methods: The data consisted of open-ended interviews with 10 carers and 8 relatives of the patients. The patients in the Finnish-speaking nursing home were suffering from various stages of Alzheimer`s, vascular and other dementia diseases. All had lost their second language – Swedish – and their native language was affected as well. The interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed. Participant observations were made in order to understand daily life at the ward.
Results: The most important part of the Finnish culture identified at the ward was the language, care given by staff with the same ethnic background, traditions such as Finnish food, Finnish media, music, interior decoration. The language was the most important, since it was essential to a well functioning interaction and communication between carer and patient, and misunderstandings related to language were minimized. The patients were more verbal, more physically active and less agitated in the Finnish-speaking environment, which was noted in reduced consumption of sedatives. Language was also important in relation to behavioral problems, as seen in the patients transferred from a Swedish-speaking nursing home to a Finnish-speaking one. Those patients showed positive changes in regards to aggression and depression. The importance of Finnish food was seen in the patients' good nutritional state. Finnish radio, television and music meant something familiar that stimulated memories. The Finnish-speaking staff thus played a keyrole, not only as carers, but by sharing the same cultural background, they were mediators in bringing “Finnish” culture into the care environment, so that the patients were cared for in a way that created something familiar, similar to a Finnish home.
Conclusion: Immigrants suffering from dementia need a culturally sensitive care environment especially developed to meet their needs.
Back to Mental health services and quality of life in the elderly
Back to Oral and Poster Sessions
Back to The IPA European Regional Meeting (1-4 April 2003) of IPA