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The Windrush Generation describes a group of individuals who migrated, primarily from the Caribbean to the UK between 1948 and 1971, many of whom are now entering older age. Now entering later life, many face ongoing health inequalities shaped by systemic racism and cultural marginalisation. Despite a growing number of ethnic minority residents in UK care homes, little is known about the lived experiences of Black African Caribbean people in these settings, particularly at the end of life.
This qualitative study explores the experiences of Black African Caribbean care home residents and their families, focusing on how race, identity and marginalisation shape care. Guided by the Silences Framework, semistructured interviews will be conducted with up to 16 participants across diverse care home settings. Data will be analysed thematically, with attention to under-represented narratives. A Patient and Public Involvement group of African Caribbean community members has codeveloped the study and will support analysis and dissemination to ensure cultural relevance.
Ethical approval has been secured (REC: 24/WM/0151; protocol number: RG_21087; IRAS project ID: 302629), and the study will follow rigorous consent and capacity procedures, including caregiver affirmation and UBACC assessment where needed. Given the sensitive, potentially distressing focus on racism, marginalisation and end-of-life experiences, the research will be conducted by an experienced clinician-researcher using a reflexive, ethically grounded approach that safeguards both participants and researcher. Interviews will be held in private, accessible settings with appropriate advocacy, safeguarding concerns will follow care home and national protocols, and all data will be securely stored, anonymised and managed under General Data Protection Regulation and university governance, with the University of Birmingham as sponsor and data controller.
The experiences of people from ethnic minority backgrounds living in care homes—A qualitative systematic review.
Despite the increasing need for older people from ethnic minority backgrounds to be able to access good quality, culturally competent care home provision, globally, there is an absence of literature exploring care home residents' perspectives. This study conducted a systematic review, identifying and synthesising qualitative evidence, which explored the experiences of residents', and their families, from ethnic minority backgrounds, who live in care home settings.
A qualitative systematic review.
Nine electronic databases, MEDLINE, Nursing and Allied Health, CINAHL, ASSIA, AMED, Sociological Abstracts, PsycINFO, Web of Science, SCOPUS, were systematically searched for research published after 2005 until 2025.
This systematic review of qualitative studies was conducted in accordance with The PRISMA 2020 (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) statement. Studies were appraised for quality based upon validated critical appraisal tools from the Joanna Briggs Institute. Qualitative data were extracted and synthesised using reflexive thematic analysis.
Sixteen studies were identified from the international literature that explored care home experiences from the resident's and families' perspectives. Three key themes were extrapolated: Patter, which includes how cross-cultural communication skills and language affect care experiences; Place, which includes the care home environment, the multi-ethnic environment, and quality of care; and Person, which encompasses the individual's culture, values, beliefs, food, and family.
There is limited literature from the UK and low-to-middle income countries exploring care home residents' perspectives on care provision. Key components of culturally competent care include culturally sensitive communication, adaptable environments that support residents' chosen lifestyles, and inclusive, family-centred approaches to living well.
For nurses within the adult social care sector, to recognise the need for further research, education, and policy initiatives aimed at enhancing the care home provision for people from ethnic minority groups.
There was no patient or public contribution.
Nursing is a profession that has always worked with diverse people and communities and has taken a social justice approach to care. Nursing has also undertaken research that includes diverse groups and communities. However, nurse researchers working with and undertaking research with diverse groups and communities may encounter problems in executing the research. This may be for reasons such as poor understanding of cultural and racial difference, not having an inclusive research team, for example, LGBTQIA+ researchers to help conduct LGBTQIA+ focused research or using an ableist approach, all of which can lead to exclusion, diminished trust and credibility. In this commentary, we draw on Hollowood’s doctoral journey and Moorley’s research experience, where both work with and research diverse communities’ health. Nurse researchers need to apply methodologies and approaches that are culturally sensitive and inclusive and here we offer essential tips, which have helped us by drawing on culturally specific...
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