Roach, PamelaOdy, Meagan2024-11-252024-11-252024-11-22Ody, M. (2024). Advancing Indigenous-centred dementia care: a qualitative study (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.https://hdl.handle.net/1880/120097Indigenous populations in Canada are experiencing increased rates of dementia compared to non-Indigenous populations, yet there remains a lack of culturally safe, Indigenous-centred dementia care. The current dementia care system is ineffective and does not address the care and treatment needs of Indigenous people living with dementia and their care partners. The aims of this project were to gain an understanding of the experiences of dementia for Indigenous people living with dementia, their care partners, families, and communities and to determine the foundational principles of culturally safe approaches to Indigenous-centred dementia care. This work is framed within an Indigenous worldview and informed by Indigenous paradigms of relationality. This research used a Métis methodological approach, Keeoukaywin (The Visiting Way) and qualitative semi-structured interviews to collect in-depth data with 12 participants throughout Alberta. Participants included Indigenous people living with dementia, care partners, and community members and used thematic analysis to create a framework to improve culturally safe dementia care. The framework includes three domains that inform Indigenous-centred dementia care including relationality, being well, and safety. Each of these three domains include subdomains including social, cultural, and physical characteristics informed by participant experiences. This framework provides a foundation that can be integrated into the creation of an Indigenous-centred dementia care approach.enUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.Indigenous healthdementiabrain healthinterventionIndigenous methodologyqualitative researchPublic Healthmaster thesis