PERCEPTIONS OF DEMENTIA, CAREGIVING, AND HELP-SEEKING AMONG ASIAN ANDPACIFIC ISLANDER AMERICANS

The United States is becoming more ethnically diverse, and Asian and P acific Islanders (APIs) are one of the most rapidly growing ethnic min ority grows. Of interest to social workers is how the traditional valu es and practices of there cultures affect their perceptions of disease and use of health sen,ices. This article presents information on perc eptions of dementia, caregiving, and help seeking for the API group as a whole, with additional information on five of the major API subgrou ps-Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, and Hawaiian. Implications for practice, policy, and research are discussed.