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The Lived Experience of Older Migrants With Mild Cognitive Impairment

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Thesis(2.89 MB)

Date

2023

Authors

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Neville, Stephen
Macdiarmid, Rachel

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Doctor of Health Science

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Publisher

Auckland University of Technology

Abstract

“We do not remember days; we remember moments. The richness of life lies in memories we have forgotten.” Cesare Pavese, The Burning Brand: Diaries, 1935–1950. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is recognized worldwide as a serious health issue and a grey area between intact cognitive abilities and mild impairment. MCI is often referred to as the stage between normal ageing and early cognitive decline. This study aimed to grasp the meaning of the lived experience of older migrants with MCI. The goal was twofold: first, to build a deep understanding of what it means for older migrants to live with MCI and, secondly, to learn from their stories of moments of their lives when their cognition began to deteriorate. Older migrants with MCI have multifaceted stories to share, which is essential for gerontology professionals to recognize and learn lessons from these experiences. Many may have varying levels of insight into their cognitive function and can recall specific moments of such experiences. Hermeneutic phenomenology was used to explore older migrants' lived experiences of MCI in Aotearoa, New Zealand, which is based on the philosophical foundations of the 20th-century philosopher Martin Heidegger [1889–1976]. By networking with professionals from public services, non-governmental organisations, and community organisations, I connected with older migrants from various countries of origin. After recruitment, primary data were electronically and manually analyzed to inform participants' lived experience with MCI. This research presents the findings from 13 women and two men aged 56–83 years who live in the Auckland community. Their data was crafted into stories with a hermeneutic perspective, divided into four chapters: being thrown into distressing events, being connected with others, forgetting every day, and knowing how to make sense of MCI. Reflecting on the findings reveals the stress and long-term effects of MCI on older migrants' health and well-being and uncovers their strategy to make sense of living with MCI. MCI is sometimes perceived as a typical ageing problem. Still, some older migrants and their relatives feel differently, highlighting the need for more help, support, education and understanding of this condition. Family trauma, relationship complications, retirement problems, physical health problems, social isolation, and acculturation, are shown to affect the memory of older migrants. Their stories also reveal that socialization, prayer, and interaction with different cultural groups are crucial to keeping their memory supple. Lack of cultural awareness, and stigma concerning MCI contribute to embarrassment or frustration and fear of living with MCI. The stories of older migrants showed how they grasped memory problems and identified their self-management strategies to improve their health and memory.

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https://hdl.handle.net/10292/15915

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