Health care experiences and beliefs of elderly Finnish immigrants in Sweden.
OBJECTIVE
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.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Heikkilä
K
K
Department of Neuroscience, Occupational Therapy, and Elderly Care Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Ekman
S L
SL
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003469:Culture; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D013548:Sweden