Black & ethnic minorities

This study explored the needs, aspirations and expectations of older people and family carers from a range of ethnic communities in Bradford, regarding both formal paid care provision and help from family, friends and neighbours. The focus was on the accessibility, acceptability, appropriateness and responsiveness of services. The study found cross-cultural similarities as well as cultural specificities in experiences and expectations. 

The discourse surrounding community care characterises informal support being superior to and preferred over formal sources of support, with this distinction buttressed by policy changes. There is a lack of understanding of the interdependence of both spheres of support. This article argues that an individual's experience and expectation of one type of support is often made in relation to his or her understanding, expectation and experience of other sources of support.

This unique bi-lingual book records the reminiscences of 13 carers from Sheffield's Yemeni community.The stories were collected by noted local writer Debjani Chetterjee and translated by Abdul Razak Saleh.

Over the last decade significant developments and debates have highlighted the disadvantages experienced by people who use mental health services.

'They look after their own' is a phrase with which we are all familiar but to what extent do ethnic and minority groups care for and support for their family members? Given the current focus on carers, Rosalind Willis in this article presents the findings of a preliminary study into ethnicity and family support, and highlights that what is generally defined as 'support' may perhaps be interpreted differently within and because of different cultures. 

Suggests that language barriers may prevent Bangladeshi informal carers from accessing statutory services in South Wales. Suggestion that informal carers in Bangladeshi communities see their role as an "honor and a privilege," but have limited access to statutory services, often because of language problems; Health and social needs of people caring for dependent adults within a Bangladeshi community.

The aim of the present paper was to examine some views and experiences of dementia among older South Asian people, as well as their families and carers, and to explore central issues of service support. Data were collected in Scotland through interviews with 11 professionals working with South Asian people with dementia, and four case studies of South Asian people with a diagnosis of dementia, as well as their families and carers.

The Access Initiative is run by the Minority Ethnic Carers of Older People Project in partnership with Edinburgh Council, West Lothian Council, minority ethnic carers, and older people. Its twin aims are to give carers from Edinburgh's south Asian and Chinese communities a break from caring and to provide culturally competent services for older members of the family who need care. [Introduction]

A project worker who identified gaps in services for ethnic minority carers of people with mental health difficulties provided the catalyst for Birmingham's Pamela Project, which won a Community Care Award. Anabel Unity Sale reports. [Introduction]