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Health care experiences and beliefs of elderly Finnish immigrants in Sweden
1Department of Neuroscience, Occupational Therapy, and Elderly Care Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Purpose:
To elucidate the experiences and beliefs of care of elderly Finnish immigrants living in Sweden (Sweden-Finns) in order to gain an understanding of the role ethnic background plays in these experiences and beliefs.
Design:
39 elderly Sweden-Finns living in Stockholm were interviewed. The data were analysed hermeneutically.
Results:
On a surface level, the care in Sweden was culturally congruent to elderly Sweden-Finns' experiences and beliefs of care. However, care in Finland and the care providers with Finnish background were regarded as superior to Swedish caregivers, giving a deeper sense of familiarity and trust in anticipation of good care.
Implications For Practice:
Culturally appropriate care with care providers sharing the same ethnic background is important for ethnic elderly persons in enabling familiarity and trust between staff and patients.