Transgender Competence in Social Work with Older Adults in Sweden

The provision of healthcare services to older LGBT adults in the Nordic countries: a scoping review

“…Moreover, studies about LGBT service receivers described a lack of knowledge among healthcare providers as a considerable challenge [ 16 , 26–30 ]. Among the topics in which healthcare providers had insufficient knowledge, was the difference between gender identity and sexual orientation [ 18 , 27 ], and the use of terminology, herein the use of preferred pronouns [ 22 ]. In addition, knowledge about older LGBT adults is lacking, since knowledge on LGBT issues is derived from societal discourses and media, where younger generations are in focus [ 22 ].…”

“…Among the topics in which healthcare providers had insufficient knowledge, was the difference between gender identity and sexual orientation [ 18 , 27 ], and the use of terminology, herein the use of preferred pronouns [ 22 ]. In addition, knowledge about older LGBT adults is lacking, since knowledge on LGBT issues is derived from societal discourses and media, where younger generations are in focus [ 22 ]. Moreover, the lack of knowledge is particularly prominent when patients define themselves outside of the gender dichotomy [ 18 ].…”

“…Several of the included studies described that cis- and/or heteronormative 6 discourses dominated in healthcare services [ 13 , 22 , 26–29 , 31–37 ]. The expectation of heterosexuality was communicated verbally, in waiting rooms and other public areas, through brochures and other information materials [ 28 , 31 ].…”

“…Some studies directed attention towards the fact that institutional and structural factors influence older LGBT adults’ healthcare experiences [ 22 , 27 , 32 , 34 , 36 , 42 , 45 ]. Studies emphasized that as long as measures at the organizational level are lacking, older LGBT adults are at the mercy of individual healthcare workers and their widely varying attitudes and competence [ 27 , 45 ].…”

“…Four texts focused on older transgender people [ 22 , 26 , 27 , 54 ]. Among these are three texts by Siverskog [ 26 , 27 , 54 ].…”