The role of ethnicity in elder care

This article has attempted to illustrate (1) how the concept of ethnicity is related to elder care, whether that care is given at home, in a hospital, or in a nursing home; (2) some of the issues inherent in the assessment of ethnicity; and (3) some of the ways to incorporate the symbols of ethnic identity into an elder's plan of care. Essential to the assessment process are examination of perceived biases and expectations of care from both an elder's and a nurse's perspective. Incorporation of assessed ethnicity involves interpretation of an elder's behavior, rituals, and symbols--for example, preferred foods and language--and mutual planning of care that meets the priorities of the elder's ethnic beliefs.