HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS British Journal of Psychiatry Advances in Psychiatric Treatment All RCPsych Journals		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Raffi, A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Raffi, A.

Are old age services equipped to cope with immigrant elders?

Royal Oldham Hospital, Oldham OL1 2JH, email: asadraffi{at}yahoo.co.uk

As a trainee psychiatrist of ethnic origin, I wonder whether old age psychiatric services are aware of problems they are likely to face in the future and how they plan to adapt to them. Those migrants who came to the UK from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh in the late 50s and 60s are now reaching retirement age and consequently any mental health problems they experience would need to be addressed by old age psychiatry services. Some services may have had experience of treating the parents of these migrants, but not in the numbers they are likely to face.

Traditionally, elders have been cared for in older age by the extended family, who have been able to meet their cultural, social and physical needs. As the current generation of descendants becomes more integrated into Western society, the break up of the extended family is both evident and inevitable. There are also wider implications. Are there culturally sensitive and appropriate placements available for such people once they are discharged, if going home is no longer an option? Surely we need to plan ahead and address these issues which we are highly likely to face in the near future.

This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Raffi, A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Raffi, A.