Hounslow Health Inequalities in Dementia Care (HHIinD): Experiences of South Asian Ethnic Minority People Living With Dementia and Their Carers, and the Role of Arts, Heritage and Cultural Interventions

Despite increasing dementia prevalence among minority ethnic populations in the UK, culturally appropriate post-diagnostic support remains limited. South Asian ethnic groups face distinct barriers in accessing care, including a lack of tailored arts, heritage, and cultural interventions that could support engagement, wellbeing, and social connection. This study explored how people living with dementia from South Asian ethnic groups and their carers in an ethnically diverse part of London, experience dementia services and perceive the potential value of creative health and culturally rooted approaches. Ten qualitative interviews were conducted with 22 participants (10 people living with dementia and 12 carers) of South Asian heritage, in 2024. Participants were recruited via community dementia services and included inpatients and outpatients aged 65-85, and carers aged 35-80. Interviews (40-90 min) explored experiences of dementia care, service access, and the role of arts, heritage, and cultural interventions. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to generate themes. Five key themes were identified: (1) Cultural Disconnect in Dementia Services; (2) Underuse of Cultural and Creative Resources; (3) Relational Continuity and Trust in Home-Based Dementia Services; (4) Gaps in Information and Dementia Healthcare System Navigation; and (5) Intersectional Barriers to Dementia Care Access. Participants described trusted relationships with home-based dementia teams, but strain in navigating wider care systems. Carers-particularly women-reported emotional exhaustion and limited capacity to engage with arts-based or cultural activities. Participants preferred culturally familiar, faith-sensitive, and home-delivered creative interventions. Dementia care for ethnically diverse groups must address the intersecting pressures of structural inequality, cultural identity, and caregiving. Co-produced, home-based arts and heritage interventions - embedded within trusted dementia care relationships - show promise in improving culturally relevant support. Embedding intersectionality and creativity in post-diagnostic dementia services can improve access, equity, and quality of life for both those with dementia and their carers.