iSupport for South Asian carers in the UK

Background
There is a pressing need for interventions tailored to diverse clinical and demographic populations of dementia caregivers. The South Asian community represents the largest minority ethnic group in England and Wales. However, this community is underserved in research with many online interventions not addressing the specific care needs of South Asian carers in the UK. In this community, awareness about dementia is reported to be lower in comparison to the general population. Additionally, high levels of stigma and pressures to keep care within the family can limit help-seeking. The World Health Organization’s ‘iSupport’ is an online intervention that can be tailored to meet the needs of diverse populations.

Method
‘iSupport’ will be adapted for caregivers of UK-based South Asian people with dementia (with translations into Bengali, Punjabi and Urdu). Stakeholder consultation and co-design involving caregivers, healthcare professionals, researchers and charity representatives will employ a range of methods including focus groups, think-aloud and semi-structured interviews to support the cultural adaptation of iSupport in all three languages.

Result
Adaptations for the UK South Asian population include: tailoring translations and cultural nuances that reflect the South Asian diaspora; the use of audio and videos to increase access to carers with a range of literacy levels; and addressing misconceptions about defining oneself as a caregiver. Next steps include testing the feasibility and acceptability of the adapted Bengali iSupport intervention.

Conclusion
These tailored interventions will better support the knowledge and skills of South Asian caregivers. The e-health approach enables broad reach and offers support to those unable to access interventions due to cultural and language barriers, resulting in informed communities and improved wellbeing outcomes for carers and people with dementia.