ABSTRACT
Cultural values continue to be important influences in care-giving relationships as they can affect behaviours, expectations, and well-being of care-givers. For many groups, particularly minority populations, these 46traditional values continue to act as salient forces as they underlie the nature of relationships as well as individuals’ own self-concepts. However, the importance of these values may diminish among non-minority groups who do not share the same histories of discrimination and have therefore not relied so strongly on informal supports.
Understanding the nature of the stress experienced by diverse cultural groups and incorporating ethnic values into the design of services are pre-requisites for meeting care-giver needs. Without such understanding, sensitive and appropriate services cannot be offered and those most in need may continue to remain neglected by the service systems.
