The health, social care and housing needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender older people: a review of the literature

Abstract

This paper reports the findings of a literature review of the health, social care and housing needs of older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) adults undertaken in 2006 for the Welsh Assembly Government. Peer-reviewed literature was identified through database searches of BNI, PubMed, CINAHL, DARE, ASSIA and PsychInfo. Follow-up searches were conducted using references to key papers and journals as well as specific authors who had published key papers. A total of 187 papers or chapters were retrieved, of which 66 were included in the study; major themes were identified and the findings synthesised using a meta-narrative approach. The main themes that emerged from the review were isolation, health behaviours, mental health and sexual health behaviours. The literature indicates that the health, social care and housing needs of LGBT older people is influenced by a number of forms of discrimination which may impact upon the provision of, access to and take up of health, social care and housing services. Understanding of the health, social care and housing needs of older LGBT people is limited and research in this area is scarce. The research which exists has been criticised for using small samples and for tending to exclude participants from less affluent backgrounds. The focus of research tends to be on gay men and lesbians; consequently, the needs of bisexual and transgender people remain largely unknown. Additionally, research which does exist tends to focus on a narrow range of health issues, often related to the health needs of younger LGBT people. Discrimination in various forms has a major impact on needs and experiences, leading to marginalisation of LGBT people both in the provision of health and social care services and neglect of these groups in public health research.

Migration, integration, and health for aging LGBTQ2 populations in the EU: a strengths-based approach to policy

“…Several areas of concern are relevant to the current project, and have been illuminated by previously conducted, extensive literature reviews surrounding the health, social care, and housing needs of LGBTQ2 older people: isolation, health behaviours, mental health, and sexual health behaviours [14]. The literature indicates that the health, social care, and housing needs of LGBTQ2 populations are influenced by various of forms of discrimination which may impact upon the provision of, access to, and use of health, social care, and housing services [14,15].…”

“…The literature indicates that the health, social care, and housing needs of LGBTQ2 populations are influenced by various of forms of discrimination which may impact upon the provision of, access to, and use of health, social care, and housing services [14,15]. These forms of discrimination can exist at both the informational (e.g.…”

End-of-Life Preparations among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People: Integrative Review of Prevalent Behaviors

“…In addition to the lack of socioeconomic diversity, there was a lack of ethnic and racial diversity as this review was primarily comprised of non-Hispanic white people. Given the well-known ethnic/racial inequities in American health care and likely in EOL care as well, intersectional arguments to advance knowledge about more ethnically and racially diverse LGBT people are clear (Addis et al, 2009;Bowleg, 2012).…”

“…The need to advance understandings about diversities within and between all LGBT people is glaring. Much of the research in this and related fields has focused on gay men and lesbian women with much less attention paid to bisexual people and almost none to the "invisible T," transgender people (Addis, Davies, Greene, MacBride-Stewart, & Shepherd, 2009;de Vries et al, 2016;Institute of Medicine, 2011).…”

Attitudes of Heterosexual Assisted Living Residents Toward Gay and Lesbian Peers

“…The rationale for this study is derived from past research indicating that older LGB adults face many obstacles in accessing LGB-affirmative social services, health care, and housing (Addis, Davies, MacBride-Stewart, & Shepherd, 2009). This is largely due to heteronormative and homophobic policies and attitudes that exist in greater society.…”