Attention to the unique health care needs of people who have immigrated to Canada should not wait until they are dying. The culture of the past and the reasons for migration are blended into their understanding of health care values and affect their response to interventions. Health professionals should understand that the family and the cultural community play a special role in the integration and acceptance of Canadian methods of care. Palliative home care nurses are participant-observers of the family ties to the past. They can share these observations with other health care workers.
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