A diversity-sensitive long-term care for gay and lesbian elders in need of care – Results of the research project GLESA

Abstract

This paper presents results of the research project „Gleichgeschlechtliche Lebensweisen und Selbstbestimmung im Alter“ (GLESA) by the Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences, Berlin, and the Berlin School of Economics and Law concerning the needs of gay and lesbian elders regarding long-term care. The main focus is on the expectations and perceptions of long-term care (facilities) of the interviewees living in a gay housing project in Berlin, Germany. The study is based on 26 interviews: with eleven gay, one lesbian and three heterosexual tenants – two of them lived in a shared community with long-term care services. Another eleven interviews were conducted with experts (five cis-female, four cis-male and two transgender) working in social and health services (social workers, carers and psychologists). The data was gathered via problem-centered interviews (Witzel 2000) and analysed with Mayrings‘ (2007) qualitative content analysis. Long-term care aspects were one out of five dimensions of the analysis. The study illustrates the discomfort of LGB elders regarding regular care services. The interviewees prefer LGB(T*I)-friendly facilities, in part because they demonstrate overt signs of diversity and promise a high competence of LGB(T*I) personnel in terms of self-determination, awareness, visibility and knowledge about LGBT*I communities. Finally, the authors advocate enhancing the concept of culture-sensitive long-term care according to diversity-sensitive aspects. A better understanding of diversity will help to better consider individuality and biographies in long-term care (facilities) and to support the social inclusion of LGB(T*I) elders in need of care.