Gay and Lesbian Perceptions of Discrimination in Retirement Care Facilities

Abstract

Much research on older gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) adults has focused on refuting the widely held misconceptions people have about GLBT lifestyles. To date, however, few studies on older GLBTs have examined their social and health care needs. Further, most studies have collected survey samples of older GLBT adults in large metropolitan areas and have not specifically addressed discrimination or bias in retirement care facilities. In the current exploratory study on perceptions of discrimination and bias in retirement care facilities, we surveyed a wide age range GLBT adults in a smaller metropolitan area of fewer than 400,000 people to discover the perceptions of both younger and older GLBTs. We surveyed perceptions of discrimination in retirement care facilities, sources of perceived discrimination, and suggestions for how discrimination might be reduced or eliminated in those settings. Respondents indicated that administration, care staff, and residents of retirement care facilities themselves were all potential sources of discrimination, and that education addressing awareness and acceptance of GLBTs is one potential remedy for discrimination against GLBTs in retirement care facilities. Respondents also indicated a strong desire for the development of GLBT-exclusive or GLBT-friendly retirement care facilities. Chi-square analyses of responses to the discrimination questions and respondents' demographic characteristics revealed significant differences with regard to age, income, gender, community size, and education level of the respondents.

Lesbian and Gay People's Concerns about Ageing and Accessing Services

“…Further, nearly 46% of people believed that service providers would be prejudiced or display discriminatory attitudes or behaviours towards LGBT people. These findings reflect results from research in the United States which suggests that a majority of LGBT people expect to be discriminated against when receiving aged care services (Johnson et al, 2005). In the study by Johnson et al (2005), 60% Regarding some of the specific concerns about accessing carers' and aged care services, a majority of respondents prioritised lack of recognition given to same-sex relationships.…”

“…These included identity concealment when in contact with health and aged care providers and discrimination if identity was inadvertently exposed. The significance of expectations of discrimination has similarly been identified in the United States (Johnson, Jackson, Arnette & Koffman, 2005).…”

Idosos LGBT que Vivem em Instituições de Cuidados: Desafios e Barreiras para a Manutenção dos Direitos Sexuais

“…Es decir, quizá muchas décadas de vivir su identidad y orientación sexual de manera abierta en la comunidad, entrar en la residencia es un paso atrás dramático y un recorte drástico de derechos (Cohen, Curry, Jenkins Walker, & Hogstel, 2008;Johnson et al, 2005). El temor a revelar la identidad sexual no sólo tiene efectos en el ámbito de los derechos, sino que puede implicar consecuencias negativas para el funcionamiento psicológico y la salud mental (Beals, Peplau, & Gable, 2009;Bybee, Sullivan, Zielonka, & Moes, 2009).…”

“…La discusión de si tiene sentido la creación de servicios específicos para personas mayores del colectivo LGBT es una opción planteada desde diversos ámbitos. Ciertos estudios ponen de relieve, por ejemplo, que un porcentaje considerablemente de personas LGBT verían con buenos ojos la creación de servicios gay-friendly (Johnson et al, 2005;Stein et al, 2010), aunque en el estudio de McFarland y Sanders (2003), sólo un 3% de los participantes indicaron que consideraban importante la creación de servicios dedicados exclusivamente al público LGBT. Es un tema que está abierto a discusión: mientras la adaptación del servicio a las necesidades de ese colectivo, el sentimiento pleno de inclusión y la garantía de sus derechos podrían sugerir que, al menos mientras persista la situación actual, estos servicios tienen sentido, por otro lado se esgrime que la creación de residencias e instituciones de cuidado exclusivas para personas LGBT podría reforzar la segregación de este colectivo.…”

Attitudes of Heterosexual Assisted Living Residents Toward Gay and Lesbian Peers

“…When entering a facility, LGB residents who have been -out‖ for a large portion of their lives may feel the need to go -back in the closet‖ for fear of being mistreated and denied care (Brotman, Ryan, & Cormier, 2003;Grant et al, 2010;Johnson, Jackson, Arnette, & Koffman, 2005; National Senior Citizens Law Center (NSCLC), 2011; Quam & Whitford, 1992;Shankle et al, 2003;Stein, Beckerman, & Sherman, 2010). This is concerning, since non-disclosure of sexual orientation has been negatively associated with impact the quality of health care provided (Stein & Bonuck, 2001; see Dean et al, 2000, for an extensive discussion).…”