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Australasian journal on ageing
Mar, 2022;41 (1): 97-105.

LGBTI attitudes towards and experiences of aged care: Results of an exploratory survey.

Tom McClean
Author Information
  1. Tom McClean: Uniting NSW/ACT, Sydney, NSW, Australia. ORCID
PMID: 34704656 DOI: 10.1111/ajag.13010

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To gather views of older LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex) people on their experiences and expectations of aged care.
METHODS: An online survey of participants recruited through a large provider in NSW, Australia, and three organisations in the LGBTI community.
RESULTS: Respondents were older members of the LGBTI community, with a range of kinds of experience of aged care (including as clients, workers and advocates). They were somewhat skewed towards regional areas and many reported different kinds of vulnerability. They reported feeling safe to disclose their LGBTI status when engaging with services and not having difficulties on that basis. However, most disagreed that services currently meet the needs of LGBTI people. They said visible signs of welcome, inclusive language, treating disclosures sensitively and managing relations with partners and family were most important for older LGBTI people. Their own choices about aged care would be influenced by service inclusiveness and quality. There were no clear trends by demography, vulnerability or other characteristics.
CONCLUSIONS: Providers should continue to focus on inclusiveness, and improve support for managing relations with family.

Keywords

consumer preference health services for the aged homes for the aged sexual and sex minorities

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MeSH Term

Aged
Attitude
Female
Homosexuality, Female
Humans
Sexual and Gender Minorities
Surveys and Questionnaires
Transgender Persons
Male
Journal Article
Article has an altmetric score of 3

Word Cloud

Created with Highcharts 10.0.0LGBTIagedolderpeoplecareservicesexperiencessurveycommunitykindstowardsreportedvulnerabilitymanagingrelationsfamilyinclusivenessOBJECTIVE:gatherviewsLesbianGayBisexualTransgenderIntersexexpectationsMETHODS:onlineparticipantsrecruitedlargeproviderNSWAustraliathreeorganisationsRESULTS:RespondentsmembersrangeexperienceincludingclientsworkersadvocatessomewhatskewedregionalareasmanydifferentfeelingsafedisclosestatusengagingdifficultiesbasisHoweverdisagreedcurrentlymeetneedssaidvisiblesignswelcomeinclusivelanguagetreatingdisclosuressensitivelypartnersimportantchoicesinfluencedservicequalitycleartrendsdemographycharacteristicsCONCLUSIONS:Providerscontinuefocusimprovesupportattitudescare:Resultsexploratoryconsumerpreferencehealthhomessexualsexminorities

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