ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on black old women who are disabled and black women who are carers of older disabled family members. It explores some of the emergent issues and themes from a broader research project currently in progress in Central Birmingham Health Authority (Evers et al forthcoming). This project is looking at community services to, and needs of, physically disabled, frail elderly, and elderly mentally infirm people living at home. It incorporates an exploratory sociological study of how black disabled elders perceive health and illness, how disability is construed and responded to in the context of their social networks, and the nature of contacts with statutory and other helping agencies.
