Older people from black and minority ethnic groups are underrepresented in their use of health and social care services, and often appear to receive poorer treatment. Although good services exist, there appear to have been difficulties in bringing them into the mainstream. This paper outlines barriers to accessing services, including lack of information, language difficulties, stereotyped assumptions on the part of professionals and differing expectations about how services can help.
Key messages:
- Older people from black and minority ethnic groups continue to receive poorer treatment from health and social care services; they are also often under represented among those using services
- Barriers to accessing services include lack of information, language difficulties, and differing expectations about how services can help
- Stereotyped assumptions on the part of professionals may also act as a barrier to service use
- There is a growing body of evidence about what older people from black and minority ethnic groups want from services
- Good services exist, but it has been difficult to bring them into the mainstream
Sections:
- The health of older people from minority ethnic groups
- Barriers to using services
- Attitudes of professionals
- What people want
- Bringing services into the mainstream
Author(s): Jo Moriarty;
Briefing series: Better Health Briefing Paper 9
Publisher: Race Equality Foundation
Publication date: June 2008
