The psychiatric needs of ethnic minority elders in the UK

Abstract

The proportion of the ethnic minority populationliving in Britain who are over the age of 65 years hasincreased from 1% in 1981 to 3% in 1991 [1, 2]. Thelatter figure contrasts -with 17% of the indigenouspopulation aged over 65 in the same year [2]. Mostethnic elders are first-generation migrants, with lessthan 10% being born in the UK [2]. Almost 6% of the UKpopulation aged over 65 was born outside the country[2]. With the passage of time, the number of second-generation ethnic elders will increase and the number offirst-generation ethnic elders will decline. However,these projections assume constant immigration andemigration trends and mortality rates in ethnic elders.This increase in the ethnic elderly population willprobably be associated with an increase in the quantityof psychiatric morbidity in this population. Psychogeri-atric services will need to plan appropriately in order toprovide a sensitive and accessible service for ethnicelders. This will require data on demography, socialcharacteristics, epidemiology, presentation and naturalhistory, pathways to care and availability and utilizationof services and needs.