Purpose: To elucidate the experiences and beliefs of care of elderly Finnish immigrants living in Sweden (Sweden-Finns) in order to gain an understanding of the role ethnic back-ground plays in these experiences and beliefs. Design: 39 elderly Sweden-Finns living in Stockholm were interviewed. The data were analysed hermeneutically. Results: On a surface level, the care in Sweden was culturally congruent to elderly Sweden-Finns’ experiences and beliefs of care. However, care in Finland and the care providers with Finnish background were regarded as superior to Swedish caregivers, giving a deeper sense of familiarity and trust in anticipation of good care. Implications for practice: Culturally appropriate care with care providers sharing the same ethnic background is important for ethnic elderly persons in enabling familiarity and trust between staff and patients. © 2000, Sage Publications. All rights reserved.

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cultural anthropology Finland human Life Change Events life event Aged ethnology Sweden Humans male female Aged, 80 and over Article organization and management migration age Age Factors Emigration and Immigration Delivery of Health Care Culture health care delivery