Age, Race and Ethnicity: A Comparative Approach. - book reviews

Age and Ageing, July, 1994 by Rob Jones

'Back to basics' was the confusing theme at the turn of the year when this book came out in paperback. But this series, of which this book is the first, seems well aimed at reviewing the 'basic' state currently of certain areas in ageing. This book is well focused too, though confined largely to the Afro-Caribbean and Asian communities.

Our understanding of ageing through seeing the impact on it of social, cultural and biological factors should be greatly enhanced by study of this area. And also starkly highlighted should be the message that services need to be sensitive to individual needs, avoiding the all-too-easy but malign influence of pervasive stereotypes.

What is surprising and, in a way, disappointing is that with old people the UK work on so large a theme can be well covered in such a slim volume. Whilst it is 'politically correct' for authorities to be concerned, the body of work produced is not robust. Here, for instance, the reference list has a significant number of works categorized as 'unpublished', or otherwise less readily available, as special pieces produced by various Local Authorities or similar bodies. But this fairly reflects the state of the field. There is a need now for more substantial population-based and longitudinal studies, to disentangle these major themes.

Ken Blakemore, who is one of those responsible for some of the pioneering work available, and Margaret Boneham well summarize work to date on the experience of older Afro-Caribbean or Asian people; on comparisons with other countries; and on the impact of ethnicity and race on health, and on health and welfare services.

Written from a social policy perspective, the authors have produced an accessible and readable account of this important area.