HIGHLIGHT

Satisfaction with social care among people with physical disabilities from Chinese backgrounds

People from Chinese backgrounds who have disabilities often struggle to access social care and some only receive the support to which they are entitled after undergoing a crisis and being admitted to hospital, according to findings from a study led by Professor Fiona Irvine at the University of Birmingham. Expectations of social care services are low and, as a result, they do not always access services that could improve their wellbeing.
 
The research into experiences of social care revealed issues with language barriers, poor understanding of social care terminology and a lack of knowledge and information about available services. Satisfaction with services seemed particularly shaped by experiences of accessing services, the attitudes of care workers, the cultural and linguistic sensitivity of services and the ease of access to information. The study highlights the importance of social care that values the individual and respects cultural diversity. 

Although participants in the study did not generally have high expectations of social care services, some who did receive support reported high levels of satisfaction. Others, though, chose to forgo publicly funded care, opting instead for self-funded care or to muddle through with limited help from family members. 
 
Some participants described a complicated process in trying to access social care. The crucial role that Chinese welfare organisations played in supporting access to services was emphasised.
 
Read the full summary findings