The role of the family in caring is very important to Polish people, however many elderly Polish people do not have extended family and live alone. Families often consider it a moral obligation to care for their loved ones at home and often are reluctant to place them in a residential care facility. The research conducted as part of the 10 Year Polish Aged Care Plan (2001-2011) confirms that most Polish elderly prefer to stay in their own homes for as long as possible, regardless of their health status and financial circumstances. Statistics show that older people from Polish background often resist seeking help until crisis point is reached. This is a result of unwillingness to lose their independence and self-sufficiency as well as a notion of embarrassment connected to the necessity of seeking help from outsiders.

Medical practitioners and medication
Traditionally, doctors and other health professionals are given great authority in various aspects of life and are well respected in the Polish community. Poles are polite to authority figures and, not wanting to offend a doctor, may not ask for clarification on questionable issues. Poles typically follow medical orders carefully and submit to various kinds of medical treatment, including tests, operations and medication. On the other hand, alternative ways of treatment are also sought alongside mainstream medical advice, often without informing the medical practitioner. Herbal medicine and pharmaceuticals are sometimes privately imported from Poland. Due to the language barrier, older Polish people usually seek out Polish speaking medical practitioners but may change physicians if they believe they are not getting better fast enough.

Attitude to pain
Polish people can at times display stoicism towards pain and may 'suffer' in silence; however others will seek treatment as soon as symptoms develop. Some Polish people may use inadequate pain relieving medication and choose distraction as a means of coping with pain, while others are comfortable with taking medication when needed.

Attitude to terminal illness
Traditionally, the diagnosis of a terminal illness would not be communicated to the person concerned but rather to their families who then decide when and how, if at all, to convey it to the patient. Occasionally families, relatives and friends may wish to 'protect' the patient from diagnosis and prognosis of a terminal illness. Some may believe that if the prognosis is communicated to the patient he or she may lose the will to live and therefore would not appreciate such a direct approach. Some patients prefer not to know that they have a terminal illness.