Described as the ‘first of its kind’ in its publicity material, this book provides detailed and often moving insights into the lives of older African-American, American-Indian, Chinese, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mexican-American and Puerto Rican people and their families. There are eight chapters on, among other things, life ways, beliefs and histories of each of the above groups of people, and a final conclusion. The purpose of the book is to present health and social-care workers with information about older adults from different ethnic groups and their families in the United States. The aim is to provide staff with enough information to be able to begin to work in culturally appropriate ways with diverse nursing home residents and their families. It is recognised that socio-economic change and the loss of the traditional family structure has made care away from a person's family necessary for many people who would not in the past have considered long-term care.

Each chapter begins with at least one illustrative case study, and then proceeds to bring meaning to the scenarios described by sensitively presenting vital information about histories, traditional ways, migration experiences, racism and exploitation as well as family systems and conceptions of health and illness. Based on the evidence provided by the specialist authors of each chapter, suggestions are made as to how each group of elders is likely to find the transition into long-term care. The authors make constructive suggestions about ways staff can support elders and their families to help to maintain quality of life in residential settings. The first chapter reveals the experiences of African-American elders, having struggled with an unsatisfactory segregated health system for much of their adult lives, and the way this manifests as apparent reluctance to present for health and social-care support. The rarely reported history of the ‘American-Indian Boarding School’ system is featured in Chapter 2. These establishments were set up after the Indian Civilization Act, and it was estimated that over one-half of American-Indian children were sent to these establishments during the 1930s and 1940s. There, the children were victims of horrific abuse, and many have never spoken of their experiences. The author makes the point that those children are now aged in their seventies and eighties, and as potential users of care services are at risk of this unresolved emotional trauma resurfacing when moving to nursing home settings.

The chapter devoted to Chinese-American people has quite detailed accounts of the immigration history and of attitudes to nursing-home placement. Care is taken to describe end-of-life needs for Chinese-American people, whose traditional expectation that death should occur at home surrounded by family can make admission for care a very distressing experience. Detailed consideration is given of the experience of Italian immigrants in Chapter 4, including early anti-Italian and anti-Catholic feeling; inter-family dynamics and the sense of abandonment felt by many elders on admission to long-term care. The history of the internment of Japanese-Americans during the Second World War is a reminder of the risk to Japanese older people of reawakening past emotional trauma in later life. The importance of staff involving families in the care and support of older Japanese people is emphasised; particularly in relation to understanding the high value placed on harmony as opposed to individualism, which can lead to elders concealing their own ill-being to spare care staff's feelings. The stigma associated with mental illness among Korean-American elders is a feature of Chapter 6. The tendency not to depend on others for emotional well-being can lead to difficulties building therapeutic relationships with professional practitioners. Traditional values generally are explained in a very accessible way.

The importance of spirituality, strong family obligations and the responsibility of the youngest daughter to provide care for older parents in Mexican-American families is raised as a risk factor for concealed carer stress. The author explains how if the youngest daughter does not meet the expectations of her parents she may be considered disrespectful, which might lead some women who are struggling with their caring responsibilities to conceal their need for support. The book's final chapter gives a detailed introduction to the diverse demography, socio-economic status, culture, citizenship, spirituality and beliefs of Puerto Rican elders.

The conclusion is short, and summarises the important differences in the experience of diverse ethnic groups. There is a list of recommendations to promote culturally appropriate social work, emphasising partnership, networking and the need for education about different cultural backgrounds and experiences. This is definitely a book that will appeal to practitioners and students in the United States and those considering studying and working there. It is accessible, informative and contributes constructively to advancing culturally appropriate care.