ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the following issues in relation to older people from black, Asian and minority ethnic groups: patterns of migration, health and illness, health services. It considers the issue of older people, health and cultural differences. Migration from one culture to another can be a stressful experience that involves major disruptions to an individual's life. The majority of migrants in the 1950s and 1960s were single men from rural areas who came to make up the shortfall of unskilled labour in areas of industrial decline. The pattern of African–Caribbean migration gradually developed in the post-war years. Migrants were actively recruited from Barbados and Jamaica by British Rail, London Transport and other large organizations. The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology states that black and minority ethnic groups are more likely to experience poorer health. A consultation project with older people from minority ethnic groups carried out by Butt and O'Neill reported that language barriers in services caused problems.
