A Guest Post from MECOPP – Minority Ethnic Carers of Older People Project

According to the 2022 census, the number of unpaid carers from minority ethnic communities in Scotland increased by over 140%. Moreover, within Scotland’s ageing population, South Asian and Chinese communities are ageing at a rate faster than the general population. From these trends, not only then does the incidence of dementia in these communities increase, but the impact of systemic inequalities in dementia care also widens. This is where the work that MECOPP does – raising awareness about dementia within minority ethnic communities and challenging systemic racism – becomes vital.

MECOPP has been supporting unpaid carers from minority ethnic communities for over 25 years. Our dementia project works with members of the Chinese and South Asian communities to overcome systemic barriers that prevent people from accessing support. The project also challenges racial inequalities in dementia care.

Within the Chinese community, dementia is often misunderstood or overlooked, and cultural barriers can prevent individuals from seeking timely support. Our project aims to raise awareness, dispel myths, and empower Chinese people with the knowledge they need to recognise and respond to dementia.

Through regular awareness workshops across Chinese organisations in Scotland, we provide practical information in culturally sensitive ways. These sessions reach the heart of the community, emphasising the importance of early diagnosis and encouraging open conversations about dementia. We aim to build trust and create a safe space for individuals and families affected by dementia.

To further support the community, MECOPP has established a Chinese-language helpline available in both Cantonese and Mandarin. This ensures that language is never a barrier to accessing guidance, advice, or emotional support.

Beyond awareness, we provide specialised training for Chinese groups to help them understand available support from local authorities, social services, and government programs. These trainings guide participants in navigating resources such as Self-Directed Support (SDS) and encourage participation within their community.

In addition to working with communities, MECOPP also provides training to professionals working in different organisations – ranging from link workers, carer centres, advocacy workers, other charities, or even NHS services – on challenging racism in dementia care.

This training draws from the wealth of experience that MECOPP has at the grassroots, from the collected body of knowledge from casework to responses to group consultations, to identify the needs and challenges faced by communities. It covers a range of perspectives, from across the big-picture view of demographic trends in Scotland and the demand on services to the impact this has on the lives of families on a personal level. Our goal is to enable organisations to challenge systemic racism and develop practices with an embedded focus on equalities and the lived experience of marginalised communities.

MECOPP’s dementia project reflects how working towards equality in dementia care involves supporting communities and people living with dementia while also addressing much broader, systemic issues. We hope to learn from lived experience at the personal and local level to advocate for more far-reaching systemic change so that everyone can live with dignity and autonomy in their old age.

To know more about the dementia project, to refer people living with dementia, or to organise training for your organisation, you can contact MECOPP at info@mecopp.org.uk.

More information on MECOPP’s website: https://mecopp.org.uk/