ABSTRACT
Some patients may refuse examination by a doctor of the opposite sex with the same ethnic background but may agree to the same examination by a doctor from a different ethnic background. The step towards improvement in health for elders of Indo-Asian origin is awareness and cultural sensitivity in health professionals. Doctors and other health professionals should spend some time evaluating the patient's understanding of the clinical problem at the end of the consultation. Many elderly women from the Indian subcontinent would have reservations regarding an examination conducted by male nurses or doctors. Patients and families may try to hide the information even from the health professional. Investigations that may require samples of urine and faeces may cause difficulties with some elderly patients, as they believe they would be polluted by carrying samples. Frail elderly patients may present to their doctors with generalised symptoms not specific for the presenting pathology.
