Building Capacity in Gerontological Social Work for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Older Adults and Their Loved Ones

Rowan, Noell L.; Giunta, Nancy

doi:10.1080/01634372.2014.895932

Cited by 7 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…There is a growing social work literature on the experiences of older LGBT people (Hughes, 2009a;Hughes 2009b;Jenkins, Walker, Cohen, & Curry, 2010;Lee & Quam, 2013;McGovern, 2014;Quam, Whitford, Dziengel, & Knochel, 2010;Rowan & Giunta, 2014;Van Sluytman & Torres, 2014;Ward, Rivers, & Sutherland, 2012) as well as literature aimed at enabling social work practitioners to work more holistically with older LGBT service users (Erdley, Anklam, & Reardon, 2014;Fredriksen-Goldsen, Hoy-Ellis, Goldsen, Emlet, & Hooyman, 2014;Gratwick, Jihanian, Holloway, Sanchez, & Sullivan, 2014;Portz et al, 2014;Stonewall, 2012;Westwood, King, Almack, & Suen, 2015). However both bodies of literature are predominantly based on the experiences of older gay men and, to a lesser extent, older lesbians, meaning that little can be deduced about the distinctive experiences of transgender and bisexual people (Barker et al, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Older bisexual people: Implications for social work from the ‘Looking Both Ways’ study

Jones

Almack

Scicluna³

2018

Journal of Gerontological Social Work

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AcknowledgementsThe authors would like to thank all the participants in the research for so generously sharing their experiences. They would also like to thank the two anonymous peer reviewers. AbstractThere is a growing social work literature about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) older people. However, research and guidance are predominantly based on the experiences of older gay men and, to a lesser extent, older lesbians. There is little to help practitioners work with older bisexual people. The Looking Both Ways study aimed to contribute to this gap in knowledge. We undertook in-depth purposely-sampled qualitative interviews with 12 people aged over 50, all of whom have bisexual relationship histories and half of whom also currently identify as bisexual. There were three main findings. Firstly, biphobia (prejudice against bisexual people) impacts on older people with bisexual histories in ways that may affect their wellbeing in later life. Secondly, concerns around receiving care are similar in some ways and different in others from the concerns of lesbians and gay men.Thirdly, people with bisexual relationship histories may have developed strong support networks and resilience, factors that may be very beneficial in later life. Three recommendations for social work professionals were identified: 1) understand biphobia, 2) recognise the legitimacy of concerns about receiving care, and 3) ask about support networks rather than assuming family support.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Older bisexual people: Implications for social work from the ‘Looking Both Ways’ study

Jones

Almack

Scicluna³

2018

Journal of Gerontological Social Work

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“…Following this trend, the Journal of Gerontological Social Work published a special issue on LGBT aging in 2014, incorporating a range of conceptual and theoretical perspectives such as risk and protective factors, resiliency, sexual identity, life review, queer theory, social support, acceptance, relational perspectives, bereavement, and cultural competency (Rowan & Guinta, 2014). In 2015, The Gerontologist published a supplemental issue highlighting issues of health and aging and findings from Aging With Pride: The National Health, Aging, and Sexuality/Gender Study, the largest national study of LGBTQ older adults to date (Fredriksen-Goldsen, 2017); just prior to this supplemental issue, Generations devoted an issue to the practice and policy implications derived from this study and the field (Fredriksen-Goldsen, 2016).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

The State of Theory in LGBTQ Aging: Implications for Gerontological Scholarship

2019

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Social research in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) aging is a rapidly growing field, but an examination of the use of theory has not yet been conducted for its impact on the field’s direction. We conducted a systematic review of empirical articles published in LGBTQ aging in the years 2009–2017 (N 102). Using a typology of theory use in scholarly articles, we analyzed these articles for the types of theories being used, the degree to which theories were used in each article, and the analytical function they served. We found that 52% of articles consistently applied theory, 23% implied or partially applied theory, and 25% presented as atheoretical. A wide range of theories were used and served multiple analytical functions such as concept development and explanation of findings. We discuss the strengths and weaknesses of theory use in this body of literature, especially with respect to implications for future knowledge development in the field.

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Lessons Learned from an LGBTQ Senior Center: A Bronx Tale

McGovern

Brown

Gasparro

2016

Journal of Gerontological Social Work

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This article describes an interdisciplinary pilot study exploring the impact of LGBTQ senior centers on the lives of center members. Many LGBTQ adults face the future having experienced stigma and bias, restricted rights, and rejection from family of origin, and are now growing older without the support of a partner and adult children. As a result, older LGBTQ adults experience higher rates of depression, loneliness and isolation, and shortened life expectancy as compared to non-LGBTQ peers. Findings from focus group and key informant interviews highlight features of LGBTQ senior center experiences that can significantly improve members' quality of life. These include providing family, acceptance and a home, which can have an impact on outlook and outcomes. Moreover, findings suggest the need for re-thinking hetero-normative definitions of "community" in the context of LGBTQ aging. Beyond sharing findings from the study, suggesting a conceptual framework for deepening understanding about LGBTQ aging, and identifying lines of future inquiry, the article articulates implications for social work research, practice and education. Ultimately, the article argues that social work is well positioned to improve quality of life for this under-served population when it adopts a cultural humility stance in research, practice and education.

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Building Capacity in Gerontological Social Work for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Older Adults and Their Loved Ones

Cited by 7 publications

References 19 publications

Older bisexual people: Implications for social work from the ‘Looking Both Ways’ study

Older bisexual people: Implications for social work from the ‘Looking Both Ways’ study

The State of Theory in LGBTQ Aging: Implications for Gerontological Scholarship

Lessons Learned from an LGBTQ Senior Center: A Bronx Tale

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