Free dementia support expands for Chinese and South-East Asian families across the UK

We’ve expanded our Chinese Communities Admiral Nurse clinics, making free, culturally sensitive dementia support available to families to book an appointment from Chinese and South-East Asian communities across the UK.

Book a free appointment

Families from Chinese and South-East Asian communities can now book a free online or telephone appointment with a Chinese Communities Admiral Nurse. Book now.

Building on the success of our London clinics

The expansion of this service follows the successful launch of our groundbreaking clinics service based in London in 2022, in partnership with the Chinese Welfare Trust.

Since it started, the service has:

• supported more than 139 carers and 120 people living with dementia
• provided more than 540 appointments

Emily Lui, Chinese Communities Admiral Nurse, says:

“It has been a privilege working alongside families from the Chinese communities in London to provide them with specialist dementia support. I have witnessed first-hand the impact that this tailored support can have in reassuring people from these communities that they are not alone, and that help is available for them. I’m so pleased that we will now be able to bring this vital lifeline to more people across the UK.”

Why do we need dementia support for Chinese and South-East Asian communities?

Accessing dementia support can be challenging for some families from Chinese communities because of stigma surrounding the condition and a lack of culturally appropriate dementia resources and services.

Just under half a million people living in the UK identify as Chinese or Chinese-British. Research with people from Chinese communities living in the UK found that many would find it hard to talk to someone with dementia, and would not feel comfortable telling people outside their close family if they were diagnosed with the condition.

Kay Cheung, Chinese Communities Admiral Nurse, says:

“I’m thrilled to be joining Dementia UK as an Admiral Nurse supporting families from Chinese communities in the UK. Dementia can carry significant stigma and taboo within some Chinese and South-East Asian communities. This can make families reluctant to seek support, leading to delays in diagnosis and treatment and poorer health outcomes. Through this service, we aim to help families living with dementia understand that there is a life beyond diagnosis and that there is no shame in seeking help.”

“The Admiral Nurse understands my background and culture and can give me suitable advice accordingly; it isn’t just the language issue.”

– Carer who attended a clinic appointment

How to book an appointment

Building on the London-based service, support is now available across the UK for Chinese and South-East Asian communities. You can book an online or telephone appointment with a Chinese Communities Admiral Nurse for culturally tailored support on all aspects of dementia, including:

• understanding symptoms
• getting a diagnosis
• preparing for how the condition might progress
• advice and support that considers language, culture and family circumstances
• addressing stigma or cultural beliefs that may make it difficult to seek or accept support

Appointments are free, can be delivered in English, Cantonese and Mandarin, and can be booked up to one month in advance.

To find out more about the Chinese Communities Admiral Nurse clinics and book an appointment, visit our clinic page.

We also have a range of leaflets in simplified and traditional Chinese for further guidance and support.

A message from our CEO

“We are so pleased to be expanding the support we offer for families from the Chinese communities in the UK and are delighted to welcome Kay Cheung to the Admiral Nurse Team, working alongside Emily Lui. This service is a significant step for us in bridging the gaps in care for people with dementia from under-served communities in the UK. We know that families from Chinese communities face many obstacles when seeking care and support for their loved ones. We hope that this service will enable them to access the culturally appropriate support they need.”

Dr Hilda Hayo OBE, Chief Admiral Nurse and Chief Executive Officer, Dementia UK