TY - JOUR
T1 - 'We Treat Them All the Same’: the
Attitudes, Knowledge and Practices of
Staff Concerning Old/er Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual and Trans Residents in Care
Homes
AU - Simpson, Paul
AU - Almack, K
AU - Walthery, P
PY - 2016/12/29
Y1 - 2016/12/29
N2 - The distinct needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual
and trans (LGB&T) residents in care homes
accommodating older people have been
neglected in scholarship. On the basis of a
survey of 187 individuals, including service
managers and direct care staff, we
propose three related arguments. First,
whilst employees’ attitudes generally
indicate a positive disposition towards
LGB&T residents, this appears unmatched
by ability to recognize such individuals and
knowledge of the issues and policies
affecting LGB&T people. Statements such
as, ‘We don’t have any (LGB or T
residents) at the moment,’ and ‘I/we treat
them all the same’ were common refrains
in responses to open-ended questions.
They suggest the working of
heteronormativity which could deny sexual
and identity difference. Second, failure to
recognize the distinct health and social
care needs of LGB&T residents means that
they could be subject to a uniform service,
which presumes a heterosexual past and
cisgender status (compliance with ascribed
gender), which risks compounding
inequality and invisibility. Third, LGB&T
residents could be obliged to depend
largely on the goodwill, knowledge and
reflexivity of individual staff (including
people of faith) to meet care and personal
needs, though such qualities were
necessary but not sufficient conditions for
inclusion and no substitute for collective
practices (involving commitment to learn
about LGB&T issues) that become integral
to care homes’ everyday functioning. A
collective approach is key to advancing
inclusion, implementation of legal rights to
self-expression and securing equality
through differentiated provision.
AB - The distinct needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual
and trans (LGB&T) residents in care homes
accommodating older people have been
neglected in scholarship. On the basis of a
survey of 187 individuals, including service
managers and direct care staff, we
propose three related arguments. First,
whilst employees’ attitudes generally
indicate a positive disposition towards
LGB&T residents, this appears unmatched
by ability to recognize such individuals and
knowledge of the issues and policies
affecting LGB&T people. Statements such
as, ‘We don’t have any (LGB or T
residents) at the moment,’ and ‘I/we treat
them all the same’ were common refrains
in responses to open-ended questions.
They suggest the working of
heteronormativity which could deny sexual
and identity difference. Second, failure to
recognize the distinct health and social
care needs of LGB&T residents means that
they could be subject to a uniform service,
which presumes a heterosexual past and
cisgender status (compliance with ascribed
gender), which risks compounding
inequality and invisibility. Third, LGB&T
residents could be obliged to depend
largely on the goodwill, knowledge and
reflexivity of individual staff (including
people of faith) to meet care and personal
needs, though such qualities were
necessary but not sufficient conditions for
inclusion and no substitute for collective
practices (involving commitment to learn
about LGB&T issues) that become integral
to care homes’ everyday functioning. A
collective approach is key to advancing
inclusion, implementation of legal rights to
self-expression and securing equality
through differentiated provision.
UR - https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/ageing-and-society
U2 - 10.1017/S0144686X1600132X
DO - 10.1017/S0144686X1600132X
M3 - Article (journal)
JO - Ageing & Society
JF - Ageing & Society
SN - 0144-686X
ER -