TY - JOUR AB - Dementia is found in all races. Within the UK, elders in black and minority ethnic (BME) communities are often unable or unwilling to access services that might help them when they develop dementia. A series of research‐based studies in Wolverhampton have demonstrated that working with community leaders and family carers can identify strengths as well as areas for development in service arrangements. Some areas for development are those shared by all individuals and families with dementia, while others are specific to the cultural group. Areas for action include: the lack of understanding of the normal and pathological features of ageing; fear and stigma associated with mental disorders within BME communities; lack of knowledge of dementia; and insensitivity and inflexibility within some components of services. Knowledge gained from a collaborative review of the situation can be used to plan and deliver iterative improvements. The most effective single initiative is the appointment of a link nurse competent in language, culture and clinical skills. Despite progress over a 10 year period, difficulties remain and there is more to be learned.The research reported here has been conducted over a period of nine years within the city of Wolverhampton. The research has been co‐ordinated from for dementia plus (previously Dementia Plus), which has functioned as the Dementia Development Centre for the West Midlands since 2000. VL - 2 IS - 4 SN - 1757-0980 DO - 10.1108/17570980200900024 UR - https://doi.org/10.1108/17570980200900024 AU - Jolley David AU - Moreland Neil AU - Read Kate AU - Kaur Harjinder AU - Jutlla Karan AU - Clark Michael PY - 2009 Y1 - 2009/01/01 TI - The ‘Twice a Child’ projects: learning about dementia and related disorders within the black and minority ethnic population of an English city and improving relevant services T2 - Ethnicity and Inequalities in Health and Social Care PB - Emerald Group Publishing Limited SP - 4 EP - 9 Y2 - 2024/05/06 ER -