Embracing Ambiguity and Uncertainty: A Culturally Sensitive Approach to Dementia Care in Latinx Communities

Dementia in Latinx communities is increasingly prevalent and its approach is complicated by systemic and cultural barriers to care. In both Latin American countries and Latinx immigrant communities, limited healthcare access, structural barriers, and cultural misconceptions hinder timely diagnosis and treatment. Culturally sensitive care is essential in these contexts to ensure that patients and families are treated with dignity and compassion, addressing their unique challenges and perspectives on dementia. This paper discusses the philosophy of ambiguity and medical uncertainty to explore dementia’s complex realities, particularly in underserved Latinx populations. Clinically, this includes addressing the uncertainty in dementia diagnosis and prognosis in low- and middle-income countries, bridging knowledge gaps by building trust through culturally sensitive communication, and recognizing the impact of ambiguous loss of homeland for Latinx caregivers and patients. Additionally, the ambiguity of familism, with its mixed effects on caregiving roles and expectations, requires nuanced understanding. Embracing these ambiguities fosters a more compassionate, culturally sensitive approach to dementia care that goes beyond the biomedical model and acknowledges the complexities of living with dementia.