A lifeline in her own language: Navigating dementia with culturally informed care

“It started with little things,” Teresa recalls. “We’d fix a flat tire and the next day he’d have no memory of it. His calligraphy desk sat untouched. Then came the garbage notices. He’d forget what went in which bin, and the city stopped collecting it.”

As the eldest sibling with grown children, Teresa naturally stepped into the caregiving role. But it didn’t take long before she felt out of her depth. “You’re suddenly thrown into this. You’re scared, unsure, and you don’t know how fast things are going to change.”

Care that understands the importance of culture

In September 2020, Teresa was referred to the Seniors Wellness Centre at Sinai Health by her father’s family physician and geriatrician. There, she found not just support for her father — but for herself.

“I thought we’d go in, they’d run some cognitive tests and send us on our way,” she says. “Instead, they created space for both of us — first speaking to my father alone, then to me, and then with us together. It was structured in a way that made us both feel heard and understood.”

The centre, located in Scarborough, is part of Sinai Health’s Community Mental Health Programs. It provides specialized mental health support to older adults in Cantonese and Mandarin, ensuring that care is accessible and culturally relevant.

“Being able to speak in your own language — it’s everything,” says Teresa. “Even though I can speak English, when you’re talking about something this emotional, this complex, your mother tongue is what brings it out. It’s how I can really express what I feel.”

Care that meets people where they are

Maria Choi, Manager of Sinai Health’s Community Mental Health Programs, says this approach is by design. “Our goal is to meet people where they are — in the community, in their language, and in a way that respects their lived experience,” she explains. “Mental health is still highly stigmatized, especially among older adults. That’s why we include family and caregivers in the care process. They’re often the ones seeing the changes first.”

For Teresa, those check-ins have become a source of strength and stability. Every two weeks, she meets with a social worker — sometimes about her father, sometimes about her mother, and often about herself. “They don’t just prepare you for what’s happening — they prepare you for what’s coming next,” she says. “That’s what keeps me grounded. I don’t panic when something new shows up. I’ve been braced for it.” 

She describes the experience as being guided through a storm: “It’s like I’m flying a plane through a storm, trying to land in unfamiliar terrain. And they’re the control tower, guiding me in. Even when I land, they’re still there on the ground, waving me in the right direction.”

A new perspective — and a message for others

The centre’s impact goes beyond practical care. It’s helped Teresa reframe what it means to age, to decline and to be a caregiver. “I didn’t realize I needed as much help as my father. But I do. And now I’m writing instructions for my kids — telling them, when the time comes, if all three of you agree that I’m slipping, take over. No matter how much I resist. Because I might not know.”

Maria says these kinds of reflections are common — and powerful. “When caregivers feel supported, they’re better able to care for their loved ones. But just as importantly, they begin to take care of themselves.”

For Teresa, the Seniors Wellness Centre has become more than just a clinic. “It’s my lifeline,” she says. “My father has his emergency button in case he falls. This is mine.”

Teresa hopes others from the Chinese community will hear her story and know that culturally sensitive support is out there: 

“You don’t have to do this alone. You can find dignity in the decline — for your loved one, and for yourself. That’s what the centre gave me. Dignity, direction and the strength to keep going.”

Help more families find hope and support

Your support helps Sinai Health provide culturally informed mental health care to seniors and their families.

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