ABSTRACT
In addition to being poor and disabled, each of these African American elders (Eloise Little, Ruby Washington, Viola Worth, Reverend Joseph Scott, Lucy Oliver, Geraldine Starr, and Sally Finch) has another trait in common—the will to keep trying. The experience of home care is largely race-neutral and that many of the observations about these African Americans could apply as well to elderly, disabled whites. This chapter provides specific recommendations for improving the quality of care. These recommendations pertain to the clients, their caregivers—both informal and formal—and the system of care. The chapter proposes the value of independence is foremost in the minds and behavior of these African American elders as they navigate the waters of long-term care and evaluate their care. This value is composed of two interrelated elements—maintaining control over their lives and maintaining an independent identity—and seems to gain importance as it becomes more elusive.
